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1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN 


BY 


Mrs.  may  AGNES  FLEMING 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  DARK  SECRET,"  "THE  QUEEN  OF  THE  ISLE,"  "iHli 

HEIRESS  OF  CASTLE  CLIFF,"    "  MAGDALEN 'S  VOW,"  "THE 

GVPSY  queen's  vow,"  "  THE  RIVAL  BROTHERS,"  ETC 


newyora; 
HURST  &  COMPANY 

PUBLISHBRS 


CCFTRIOHT,  1876, 
By  BEADLE  &  ADAMS. 

Th«  Midnight  Qu«on. 


CONTENTS* 


FAVC 

I.  The  Soro«reM ^ 

II.  The  Dead  Bride 20 

III.  The  Court  Page 33 

IV.  TheStranger ^ 

V.  The  Dwarf  and  the  Ruin 50 

"VI.  La  Masque , , , , m 

VII.  The  Earl'sBarge 70 

VIII.  The  Midnight  Queen [^  30 

IX.  Leoline aa 

X.  The  Page,  The  Fires  and  the  Fall 105 

XI.  The  Execution , jjj 

XII.  The  Doom jor 

XIII.  Escaped -«- 

Xrv.  In  the  Dungeon j42 

XV.  Leoline's  Visitors jri* 

XVI.  The  Third  Vision ...............!    166 

XVII.  The  Hidden  Face ......!.      179 

XVIII.  The  Interview ..!.!!.!*!...  100 

XIX.  Huberfs  Whisper !!!!!!....!.!....  209 

XX.  At  the  Plague-Pit ,\tt 

XXI.  What  was  Behind  the  Mask 937 

XXII.  Day-Dawn 2^ 

XXIII.  Finis nl 

... 


:?f)r»516 


PS  %4-^l    •  U?.-^  VAS 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  SOBCEBESS. 


The  plague  raged  in  the  city  of  London.  The  destroy- 
ing angel  had  gone  forth,  and  kindled  with  its  fiery 
breath  the  awful  pestilence,  until  all  London  became  one 
mighty  lazax -house.  Thousands  were  swept  away  daily ; 
grass  grew  in  the  streets,  and  the  living  were  scarce  able 
to  bury  the  dead.  Business  of  all  kinds  was  at  an  end, 
except  that  of  the  coffin-makers  and  drivers  of  the  pest- 
carts.  Whole  streets  were  shut  up,  and  almost  every 
other  house  in  the  city  bore  the  fatal  red  cross,  and  the 
ominous  inscription:  "Lord  have  mercy  on  us."  Few 
people  save  the  watchmen,  armed  with  halberts,  keeping 
gpiard  over  the  stricken  houses,  appeared  in  the  streets  \ 
and  those  who  ventured  there,  shrunk  from  each  other, 
and  passed  rapidly  on  with  averted  faces.  Many  even 
fell  dead  on  the  sidewalk,  and  lay  with  their  ghastly, 
discolored  faces  upturned  to  the  mocking  sunlight,  until 
the  dead  cart  came  rattling  along,  and  the  drivers  hoisted 
the  body  with  their  pitchforks  on  the  top  of  their  dread- 
ful load.  Few  other  vehicles  besides  those  same  dead- 
carts  appeared  in  the  city  now;  and  they  plied  their 
trade  busily,  day  and  night ;  and  the  cry  of  the  drivers 
echoed  dismally  through  the  deserted  streets :  "  Bring  out 
your  dead  I  bring  out  your  dead  1 "  All  who  could  do  so 
had  long  ago  fled  from  the  devoted  city ;  and  London  lay 
under  the  burning  heat  of  the  June  sunshine,  stricken  for 
its  sins  by  the  hand  of  God.  The  pest-houses  were  full, 
so  were  the  plague-pits,  where  the  dead  were  hurled  in 
cartf uls ;  and  no  one  knew  who  rose  up  in  health  in  tho 


0  THS  MIDNIGHT  QUSBN. 

morning  but  that  they  might  be  lying  stark  and  dead  in 
a  few  hours.  The  very  churches  were  forsaken ;  their 
pastors  fled  or  lying  in  the  plague-pits ;  and  it  was  even 
resolved  to  convert  the  great  cathedral  of  St.  Paul  into  a 
vast  plague-hospital.  Cries  and  lamentations  echoed  from 
one  end  of  the  city  to  the  other,  and  Death  and  Charles 
reigned  over  London  together. 

Yet,  in  the  midst  of  all  this,  many  scenes  of  wild  orgies 
and  debauchery  still  went  on  within  its  gates — as,  in  our 
own  day,  when  the  cholera  ravaged  Paris,  the  inhabitants 
of  that  facetious  city  made  it  a  carnival,  so  now,  in  Lon- 
don, there  were  many  who,  feeling  they  had  but  a  few 
days  to  live  at  the  most,  resolved  to  defy  death,  and  in- 
dulge in  the  revelry  while  they  yet  existed.  ^  Eat,  drink, 
and  be  mer*y,  for  to-morrow  you  die  I  **  was  their  motto ; 
and  if  in  the  midst  of  the  frantic  dance  or  debauched  revel 
one  of  them  dropped  dead,  the  others  only  shrieked  wiUi 
laughter,  hurled  the  livid  body  out  to  the  street,  and  the 
demoniac  mirth  grew  twice  as  fast  and  furious  as  before. 
Robbers  and  cut-purses  paraded  the  streets  at  noonday, 
entered  boldly  closed  and  deserted  houses,  and  bore  off, 
with  impunity,  whatever  they  pleased.  Highwaymen  in- 
fested Hounslow  Heath,  and  fdl  the  roads  leading  from 
the  city,  levying  a  toll  on  all  who  passed,  and  plundering 
fearlessly  the  flying  citizens.  In  fact,  far-famed  London 
town,  in  the  year  of  gprace  1865,  would  have  given  one  a 
good  idea  of  Pandemonium  broke  loose. 

It  was  drawing  to  the  close  of  an  almost  tropical  June 
day,  that  the  crowd  who  had  thronged  the  precincts  of 
St.  Paul's  since  early  morning,  began  to  disperse.  The 
sun,  that  had  throbbed  the  live-long  day  like  a  great 
heart  of  fire  in  a  sea  of  brass,  was  sinking  from  sight  in 
clouds  of  crimson,  purple  and  gold,  yet  Paul's  walk  was 
crowded.  There  were  court-gallants  in  ruffles  and 
plumes;  ballad-singers  chanting  the  not-over  delicate 
ditties  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester;  usurers  exchanging  gold 
for  bonds  worth  three  times  what  they  gave  for  them ; 
quack-doctors  reading  in  dolorous  tones  the  bills  of  mor- 
tality of  the  preceding  day,  and  selling  plague- waters  and 
anti-pestilential  abominations,  whose  merit  they  loudly 
extoUed ;  ladies,  too,  richly  dressed,  and  many  of  them 


THE  SORCERESS.. 


masked ;  and  booksellers  wlio  always  made  St.  Paul's  a 
favorite  haunt,  and  even  to  this  day  patronize  its  preoADcts, 
and  flourish  in  the  regions  ot  Paternoster  Row  and  A\e 
Maria  Lane ;  court  pages  in  rich  liveries,  pert  and  flippaLt ; 
serving-men  out  of  place,  and  pickpockets  with  a  keen 
eye  to  business ;  all  clashed  and  jostled  together,  raisir^ 
a  din  to  which  the  Plain  of  Shinar,  with  its  confusioij  of 
longues  and  Babylonish  workmen,  were  as  nothing. 

Moving  serenely  through  this  discordant  sea  of  his 
fellow-croatures  came  a  young  man  booted  and  spurred, 
whose  rich  doublet  of  cherry-colored  velvet,  edged  and 
spangled  with  gold,  and  jaunty  hat  set  slightly  on  one 
side  of  his  head,  with  its  long  black  plume  and  diamond 
clasp,  proclaimed  him  to  be  somebody.  A  profusion  of 
sno^vy  shirt-frill  rushed  impetuously  out  of  his  doublet; 
a  black- velvet  cloak,  lined  with  amber-satin,  fell  pictur- 
esquely from  his  shoulders ;  a  sword  with  a  jeweled  hilt 
clanked  on  the  pavement  as  he  walked.  One  hand  was 
covered  with  a  gauntlet  of  canary-colored  kid,  perfumed 
to  a  degree  that  would  shame  any  belle  of  to-day ;  the 
oUier,  which  rested  lightly  on  his  sword-hilt,  flashed  with 
a  splendid  opal,  splendidly  set.  He  was  a  handsome 
fellow  too,  with  fair,  waving  hair  (for  he  had  the  good 
taste  to  discard  the  ugly  wigs  then  in  vogue),  dark,  bright, 
huidsome  eyes,  a  thick  blonde  mustache,  a  tall  and  re- 
markably graceful  figure,  and  an  expression  of  counte- 
nance wherein  easy  good-nature  and  fiery  impetuosity 
had  a  hard  struggle  for  mastery.  That  he  was  a  courtier 
of  rank,  was  apparent  from  his  rich  attire  and  rather 
aristocratic  bearing,  and  a  crowd  of  hangers-on  followed 
him  as  he  went,  loudly  demanding  spur-money.  A  group 
of  timbrel  girls,  singing  shrilly  the  songs  of  the  day, 
call  boldly  to  hhn  as  he  passed ;  and  one  of  them,  more 
free  and  easy  than  the  res^  danced  up  to  him,  striking 
her  timbrel,  and  shouting  rather  than  singing  the  chorus 
of  the  then  popular  ditty : 

**  What  oare  I  for  pest  or  pUffue  ? 
We  can  die  but  once,  Gtod  wot* 
Kiss  me,  darling— stay  with  me ; 
Lovo  me— love  me.  leave  me  npt  \  ** 


•  THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 

The  darling  in  question  turned  his  bright  blue  eyes  on 
that  dashing  street-singer  with  a  cool  glance  of  rec- 
ognition. 

**  Very  sorry,  Nell,"  he  said,  in  a  nonchalant  tone,  "  but 
I*m  afraid  I  must.  How  long  have  you  been  here,  may  I 
ask?" 

**  A  full  hour  by  St.  Paul's ;  and  where  has  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley  been,  may  1  ask  ?  I  thought  you  were  dead  of 
the  plague.** 

•*  Not  exactly.  Have  you  seen — ah !  there  he  is.  The 
very  man  I  want." 

With  which  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  dropped  ^,  gold  piece 
into  the  girl's  extended  palm,  and  pushed  on  through  the 
crowd  up  Paul's  Walk.  A  tall,  and  dark  figure  was  lean- 
ing moodily  with  folded  arms,  looking  fixedly  at  the 
ground,  and  taking  no  notice  of  the  busy  scene  around 
him,  until  Sir  Norman  laid  his  ungloved  and  jeweled 
hand  lightly  on  his  shoulder. 

**GkK)d-morning,  Ormistonl  I  had  an  idea  I  would 
find  you  here,  and — but  what's  the  matter  with  you,  man  ? 
Have  you  got  the  plague?  or  has  your  mysterious  in- 
amorata jilted  you  or  what  other  annoyance  has  happened 
to  make  you  look  as  woebegone  as  old  King  Lear, 
sent  adrift  by  his  tender  daughters  to  take  care  of  him- 
self ?  " 

The  individual  addressed  lifted  his  head,  disclosing  a 
dark  and  rather  handsome  face,  settled  now  into  a  look  of 
gloomy  discontent.  He  slightly  raised  his  hat  as  he  saw 
who  his  questioner  was. 

«*  Ah !  it's  you.  Sir  Norman  I  I  had  given  up  all  notion 
of  your  coming,  and  was  about  to  quit  this  confounded 
babel — ^this  tumultuous  don  of  thieves.  What  has  de- 
tained you  ?  " 

**  I  was  on  duty  at  Whitehall.  Are  we  not  in  time  to 
keep  our  appointment  ?  " 

**  Oh,  certainly.  La  Masque  is  at  home  to  visitors  at  all 
hours,  day  and  night.  I  believe  in  my  soul  she  doesn't 
know  what  sleep  means." 

**And  you  are  still  as  much  in  love  with  her  as  ever,  I 
dare  swear  I  I  have  no  doubt,  now,  it  was  of  her  you 
^f r^  thinking  when  I  came  up.    Nothing  else  could  ^ver 


THE  SORCERESS. 


have  made  you  look  so  dismally  woebegone  as  you  did 
when  Providence  sent  me  to  your  relief." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  her,"  said  the  young  man,  moodily, 
and  with  a  darkening  brow. 

Sir  Norman  favored  him  with  a  half-amused,  half-con- 
temptuous stare  for  a  moment;  then  stopi)ed  at  a  hu<'k- 
ster^s  stall  to  purchase  some  cigiirettes ;  lit  one,  and,  ai'liM' 
smoking  for  a  few  minutes,  pleasantly  remarked,  as  if  tlic 
fact  had  just  struck  him : 

**  Ormiston,  you're  a  fool  I  *' 

♦*  I  know  it  I "  said  Ormiston,  sentcntiously. 

"  The  idea,"  said  Norman,  knocking  the  ashes  daintily 
off  the  end  of  his  cigar  with  the  tip  of  bis  liltlo  finger — 
**  the  idea  of  falling  in  love  with  a  woinuii  wliose  face  you 
have  never  seen !  I  can  understand  a  man's  going  to  any 
absurd  extreme  when  he  falls  in  love  in  proper  Christian 
fashion,  with  a  proper  Christian  face ;  but  to  go  stark, 
staring  mad,  as  you  have  done,  my  dear  fellow,  about  a 
black  loo  mask,  why — I  consider  that  a  little  too  much  of 
a  good  thing !    Come,  let  us  go." 

Nodding  easily  to  his  numerous  acquaintances  as  he 
went,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  sauntered  leisurely  down 
Paul's  Walk,  and  out  through  the  great  door  of  the 
cathedral,  followed  by  his  melancholy  friend.  Pausing 
for  a  moment  to  gaze  at  the  gorgeous  sunset  with  a  look 
of  languid  admiration.  Sir  Norman  passed  his  arm  through 
that  of  his  friend,  and  they  walked  on  at  rather  a  rapid 
pace,  in  the  direction  of  old  London  Bridge.  There  were 
few  people  abroad  except  the  watchmen  walking  slowly 
up  and  down  before  the  plague-stricken  houses;  but  in 
every  street  they  passed  through  they  noticed  huge  piles 
of  wood  and  coal  heaped  down  the  center.  Smoking 
zealously,  they  had  walked  on  for  a  season  in  silence, 
when  Ormiston  ceased  puffing  for  a  moment,  to  inquire  : 

"What  are  all  these  for?  This  is  a  strange  time,  I 
should  imagine,  for  bonfires." 

"They're  not  bonfires,"  said  Sir  Norman;  "at  least, 
they  are  not  intended  for  that ;  and  if  your  head  was  not 
fuller  of  that  masked  Witch  of  Endor  than  common  sense 
(for  I  believe  she  is  nothing  better  than  a  witch),  you 


CQUld   llQt  luiT 


1, 

if 


r^ci  kno'.vii: 


s?" 


Lord 


oi 


of 


10 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


London  has  been  inspired,  suddenly,  with  a  notion,  that 
if  several  thousand  fires  are  kindled  at  once  in  the  streets, 
i'^  will  purify  the  air,  and  check  the  pestilence  ;  so  when 
St.  Paul's  tolls  the  hour  of  midnight,  all  these  piles  are 
to  be  fired.  It  will  be  a  glorious  illumination,  no  doubt ; 
but  as  to  its  stopping  the  progress  of  the  plague,  I  am 
afraid  that  it  is  altogether-  too  good  to  be  true." 

**  Why  should  ycu  doubt  it.  The  plague  cannot  last 
forever." 

♦•No.  But  Lilly,  the  astrologer,  who  predicted  its 
coming,  also  foretold  t'^at  it  would  last  for  many  nonths 
yet;  and  since  one  prophecy  has  come  true,  I  see  no 
reason  why  the  other  should  not." 

**  Except  the  simple  one  that  there  would  be  nobody 
left  alive  to  take  it.  All  London  will  be  lying  in  the 
plague-pits  by  that  time." 

**  A  pleasant  prospect ;  but  a  true  one,  I  have  no  doubt. 
And,  as  I  have  no  ambition  to  be  hurled  headlong  into 
one  of  those  horrible  holes,  I  shall  leave  town  altogether 
in  a  few  days.  And,  Ormiston,  I  would  strongly  recom- 
mend you  to  follow  my  example." 

"  Not  1 1 "  said  Ormiston,  in  a  tone  of  gloomy  resolu- 
tion.   "  While  La  Masque  stays,  so  will  I." 

"  And  perhaps  die  of  the  plague  in  a  week." 

**  So  be  it  I  I  don't  fear  the  plague  half  as  much  as  I 
do  the  thought  of  losing  her  I  " 

Again  Sir  Norman  stored. 

"  Oh,  I  see  !  It's  a  hopeless  case !  Faith,  I  begin  to 
feel  curious  to  see  this  enchantress,  who  has  managed  so 
effectually  to  turn  your  brain.  When  did  you  see  her 
last?" 

"  Yesterday,"  said  Ormiston,  with  a  deep  sigh.  **  And 
if  she  were  made  of  granite,  she  could  not  be  harder  to 
me  than  she  is!" 

**  So  she  doesn't  care  about  you,  then  ?  " 

♦*  Not  she !  She  has  a  little  Blenheim  lap-dog,  that 
she  loves  a  thousand  timefi^  more  than  she  ever  will 
me!" 

♦♦Then  what  an  idiot  you  are,  to  keep  haunting  her 
like  her  shadow !  Why  don't  you  be  a  man  and  tw  out 
trom  your  heart  such  a  goddess !  '* 


THE  SORCERESS. 


11 


«  Ah  I  that's  easily  said ;  but  if  you  were  in  my  place, 
you'd  act  exactly  as  I  do." 

•*  I  don't  believe  it.  It's  not  in  me  to  go  mad  about 
anything  with  a  masked  face  and  marble  heart,.  If  I 
loved  any  woman — which,  thank  Fortune,  at  this  present 
time  I  do  not — and  she  had  the  bad  taste  not  to  return  it, 
I  should  take  my  hat^  make  her  a  bow,  and  go  directly 
and  love  somebody  else  made  of  flesh  and  bl(^,  instead 
of  cast-iron  I    You  know  the  old  song,  Ormiston : 

"If  she  be  not  fair  for  me 
What  care  I  how  fair  she  be  !*  "* 

**  Kingsley,  you  know  nothing  about  it  1 "  said  Ormiston, 
impatiently.  "  So  stop  talking  nonsense.  If  you  are  cold- 
blooded, I  am  not ;  and — I  love  her  I  " 

Sir  Norma  I  slightly  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  flung 
his  smoked-oUki  weed  into  a  heap  of  firewood. 

"  Are  we  near  her  house  ?  "  he  asked.  *♦  Yonder  is  the 
bridge." 

"  Ormiston,  you're  a  fool !  " 

"  I  know  it !  "  said  Ormiston,  sententiously. 

"  The  idea,"  said  Sir  Norman,  knocking  the  ashes  dainti- 
ly off  the  end  of  his  cigar  with  the  tip  of  his  little  finger 
— **  the  idea  of  falling  in  love  with  a  woman  whose  face  you 
have  never  seen  I  I  can  understand  a  man's  going  to  any 
absurd  extreme  when  he  falls  in  love  in  proper  Christian 
fashion,  with  a  proper  Christian  face ;  but  to  go  stark, 
staring  mad,  as  you  have  done,  my  dear  fellow,  about  a 
black  loo  mask,  why — I  consider  that  a  little  too  much  of 
a  good  thing  I     Come,  let  us  go." 

Nodding  (easily  to  his  numerous  acquaintances  as  he 
went,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  sauntered  leisurely  down 
Paul's  Wall :>  and  out  through  the  great  door  of  the  cathe- 
dral, follo'./ed  by  his  melancholy  friend.  Pausing  for  a 
moment  to  gaze  at  the  gorgeous  sunset  with  a  look  of 
languid  admiration.  Sir  Norman  passed  his  arm  through 
that  of  his  friend,  and  they  walked  on  at  rather  a  rapid 
pace,  in  the  direction  of  old  London  Bridge.  There  were 
few  people  abroad  except  the  watchmen  walking  slowly  up 
and  down  before  the  plague-stricken  houses ;  but  in  every 
street  they  passed  through  they  noticed  huge  piles  of 


12 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


wood  and  coal  heaped  down  the  center.  Smoking  zeal- 
oiisly,  they  had  walked  on  for  a  season  in  silence,  when 
Ormiston  ceased  puffing  for  a  moment,  to  inquire : 

**  What  are  all  these  for  ?  This  is  a  strange  time,  I 
should  imagine,  for  bonfires." 

"They're  not  bonfires,"  said  Sir  Norman;  "at  least, 
they  are  not  intended  for  that ;  and  if  your  head  was  not 
fuller  of  that  masked  Witch  of  Endor  than  common  sense 
(for  I  believe  she  is  nothing  better  than  a  witch),  you  could 
not  have  helped  knowing.  The  Lord  Mayor  of  London 
has  been  inspired,  suddenly,  with  a  notion,  that  if  several 
thousand  fires  are  kindled  at  once  in  the  streets,  it  will 
purify  the  air,  and  check  the  pestilence  ;  so  when  St.  Paul's 
tolls  the  -lOur  of  midnight,  all  these  piles  are  to  be  fired. 
It  will  be  a  glorious  illumination,  no  doubt ;  but  as  to  its 
stopping  the  progress  of  the  plague,  I  am  afraid  that  it  is 
altogether  too  good  to  be  true." 

**  Why  should  you  doubt  it  ?  The  plague  cannot  last 
forever." 

"  No.  But  Lilly,  the  astrologer,  who  predicted  its  com- 
ing, also  foretold  that  it  would  last  for  many  months  yet ; 
and  since  one  prophecy  has  come  true,  I  see  no  reason  why 
the  other  should  not." 

"  Except  the  simple  one  that  there  would  be  nobody 
left  alive  to  take  it.  All  London  will  be  lying  in  the 
plague-pits  by  that  time." 

«  A  pleasant  prospect ;  but  a  true  one,  I  have  no  doubt. 
And,  as  I  have  no  ambition  to  be  hurled  headlong  into  one 
of  those  horrible  holes,  I  shall  leave  town  altogether  in  a 
few  days.  And,  Ormiston,  I  would  strongly  recommend 
you  to  follow  my  example.'- 

"  Not  1 1 "  said  Ormiston,  in  a  tone  of  gloomy  resolution. 
"  While  La  Masque  stays,  so  will  I." 

"  And  perhaps  die  of  the  plague  in  a  week." 

"  So  be  it  I  I  don't  fear  the  plague  half  as  much  as  I 
do  the  thought  of  losing  her !  " 

Again  Sir  Norman  stared. 

"  Oh,  I  see !  It's  a  hopeless  case  !  Faith,  I  began  to 
feel  curious  to  see  this  enchantress,  who  has  managed  so 
effectually  to  turn  your  brain.  When  did  you  see  her 
last?" 


I 


THE  SORCERESS. 


18 


** Yesterday,"  said  Ormiston,  with  a  deep  sigh.  "And 
if  she  were  made  of  granite,  she  could  not  be  harder  to 
me  than  she  is !  " 

"  So  she  doesn't  care  about  you,  then  ?  " 

"  Not  she !  She  has  a  little  Blenheim  lap-dog,  that  she 
loves  a  thousand  times  more  than  she  ever  will  me  ! " 

"  Then  what  an  idiot  you  are,  to  keep  haunting  her  like 
her  shadow !  Why  don't  you  be  a  man,  and  tear  out  from 
your  heart  such  a  goddess  ?  " 

"  Ah  1  that's  easily  said  ;  but  if  you  were  in  my  plac  e, 
you'd  act  exactly  as  I  do." 

"  I  don't  believe  it.  It's  not  in  me  to  go  mad  about  any- 
thing with  a  masked  face  and  a  marble  heart.  If  I  loved 
any  woman — which,  thank  Fortune,  at  tliis  present  time 
I  do  not — and  she  had  the  bad  taste  not  to  return  it,  I 
should  take  my  hat,  make  her  a  bow,  and  go  directly  and 
love  somebody  else  made  of  flesh  and  Mood,  instead  of 
cast-iron  !    You  know  the  old  song,  Ormiston  : 

'  If  she  be  not  fair  for  me 
What  care  I  how  fair  she  be  1  * " 

"  Kingsley,  you  know  nothing  about  it ! "  said  Ormis- 
ton, impatiently.  "  So  stop  talking  nonsense.  If  you  are 
cold-blooded,  I  am  not ;  and — I  love  her  I " 

Sir  Norman  slightly  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  flung 
his  smoked-out  weed  into  a  heap  of  firewood. 

**  Are  we  near  her  house  ?  "  he  asked.  «  Yonder  is  the 
bridge." 

"And  yonder  is  the  house,"  replied  Ormiston,  pointing 
to  a  large,  ancient  building — ancient  even  for  those  times 
— >vith  three  stories,  each  projecting  over  the  other. 
"  See !  while  the  houses  on  either  side  are  marked  as  pest- 
stricken,  hers  alone  bears  no  cross.  So  it  is :  those  wlio 
cling  to  life  are  stricken  with  death  ;  and  those  who,  liive 
me,  are  desperate,  even  death  shuns." 
"Why,  my  deai'  Ormiston,  you  surely  are  not  so  far 
gone  as  that !  Upon  my  honor,  I  had  no  idea  you  were 
in  such  a  bad  way." 

"  I  am  nothing  but  a  miserable  wretch !  and  I  wish  to 
Heaven  I  was  in  yonder  dead-cart,  with  the  rest  of  them 
—and  she,  too,  if  she  never  intends  to  love  me  | " 


14 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


—        ^ 


Ormiston  spoke  with  such  fierce  earnestness,  that  there 
was  no  doubting  his  sincerity ;  and  Sir  Norman  became 
profoundly  shocked — so  much  so,  that  he  did  not  spe<ak 
again  until  they  were  almost  at  the  door.  Then  he  opened 
his  lips  to  ask,  in  a  subdued  tone : 

**  She  has  predicted  the  future  for  you — what  did  she 
foretell?" 

"  Nothing  good ;  no  fear  of  there  being  anything  in  store 
for  such  an  unlucky  dog  as  I  am." 

"Where  did  she  learn  this  wonderful  black  art  of 
hers  ?  " 

« In  the  East,  I  believe.  She  has  been  there  and  all 
over  the  world,  and  now  visits  England  for  the  first 
time." 

**  She  has  chosen  a  sprightly  season  for  the  visit.  Is 
she  not  afraid  of  the  plague,  I  wonder  ?  " 

**  No ;  she  fears  nothing,"  said  Ormiston,  as  he  knocked 
loudly  at  the  door.  "  I  begin  to  believe  she  is  made  of 
adamant  instead  of  what  other  woman  are  made  of." 

"Which  is  a  rib,  I  believe,"  observed  Sir  Norman, 
thoughtfully.  "  And  that  accounts,  I  dare  say,  for  their 
being  of  such  a  crooked  and  cantankerous  nature.  They're 
a  wonderful  race,  women  are  ;  and  for  what  inscrutable 
reason  it  has  pleased  Providence  to  (create  them — " 

The  opening  of  the  door  brought  to  a  sudden  end  this 
little  touch  of  moralizing,  and  a  Avrinkled  old  porter 
thrust  out  very  withered  and  unlovely  face. 

**  Is  La  Masque  at  home  ?  "  inquired  Ormiston,  stepping 
in,  without  ceremony. 

The  old  man  nodded,  and  pointed  up-stairs ;  and  with 
a  "  This  way,  Kingsley,"  Ormiston  sprung  lightly  up, 
three  at  a  time  followed  in  the  same  style  by  Sir  Nor- 
man. 

"  You  seem  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  latitude  of 
this  place,"  observed  tliat  young  gentleman,  as  lliey  passed 
into  a  room  at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 

"  I  ought  to  be ;  I've  been  here  often  enon«X' s"  said  Or- 
miston. «  This  is  the  common  waiting-room  i>r  all  who 
wish  to  consult  T.a  Masque.  The  old  bag  of  bones  who  let 
us  in  has  gone  to  nnnounce  us." 

Sir  Noripan  took  a  seat,  and  glanced  curiously  round 


THE  SORCERESS. 


16 


the  room.  It  was  a  commonplace  apartment  enough,  with 
a  floor  of  polished  black  oak,  slippery  as  ice,  and  shining 
like  glass ;  a  few  old  Flemish  paintings  on  the  walls ;  a 
large,  round  table  in  the  center  of  the  floor,  on  which  lay 
a  pair  of  the  old  musical  instruments  called  "  virginals." 
Two  large,  curtainless  windows,  with  minute  diamond- 
shaped  panes,  set  in  leaden  casements,  admitted  the  golden 
and  crimson  light. 

"  For  the  reception-room  of  a  sorceress,"  remai'ked  Sir 
Norman,  with  an  air  of  disappointed  criticism,  "  there  is 
nothing  very  wonderful  about  all  this.  How  is  it  she 
spaes  fortunes,  anyway.  As  Lilly  does  by  maps  and  charts 
or  as  these  old  Eastern  mufti  do  it  by  magic  mirrors  and 
all  such  fooleries  ?  " 

"  Neither,"  said  Ormiston ;  "  her  style  is  more  like  that 
of  the  Indian  almechs,  who  show  you  your  destiny  in  a 
well.  She  has  a  sort  of  magic  lake  in  her  room,  and — but 
you  will  see  it  all  for  yourself  presently." 

"  I  have  always  heard,"  said  Sir  Norman,  in  the  same 
meditative  way,  "that  truth  lies  at  the  bottom  of  a  well, 
and  I  am  glad  some  one  has  turned  up  at  last  who  is  able 
to  flnd  it  out.  Ah  I  Here  comes  our  ancient  Mercury  to 
show  us  to  the  presence  of  your  goddess." 

The  door  opened,  and  the  "  old  bag  of  bones,"  as  Ormis- 
ton irreverently  styled  his  lady-love's  ancient  domestic 
made  a  sign  for  them  to  follow  him.  Leading  the  way 
down  a  long  corridor,  he  flung  open  a  pair  of  shining  fold- 
ing-doors at  the  end,  and  ushered  them  at  once  into  the 
majestic  presence  of  the  sorceress  and  her  magic  room. 
Both  gentlemen  doffed  their  plumed  hats.  Ormiston 
stepped  forward  at  once ;  Sir  Norman  discreetly  paused 
in  the  doorway  to  contemplate  the  scene  of  action.  As 
he  slowly  did  so,  a  look  of  deep  displeasure  settled  on  his 
features,  on  finding  it  not  half  so  awful  as  he  had  sup- 
posed. 

In  some  ways  it  was  very  like  the  room  they  had  left 
being  low,  large  and  square,  and  having  floors,  walls  and 
ceiling  paneled  with  glossy  black  oak.  But  it  had  no 
windows — a  large  bronze  lamp,  suspended  from  the  center 
of  the  ceiling,  shed  a  flickering,  ghostly  light.  There 
were  no  paintings — some  ^m  carvings  of  skulls,  skele- 


Id 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I 


tons,  and  serpents,  pleasantly  wreathed  the  room- 
neither  were  there  seats  nor  tables — nothing  but  a 
huge  ebony  caldron  at  the  upper  end  of  the  apart- 
ment, over  which  a  grinning  skeleton  on  wires,  with  a 
scythe  in  one  hand  of  bone,  and  an  hour-glass  in  the  other, 
kept  watch  and  ward.  Opposite  this  cheerful-looking 
guardian  was  a  tall  figure  in  black,  standing  as  motionless 
as  if  it,  too,  was  carved  in  ebony.  It  was  a  female  figure, 
very  tall  and  slight,  but  as  beautifully  symmetrical  as  a 
Venus  Celestis.  Her  dress  was  of  black  velvet,  that 
swept  the  polished  floor,  spangled  all  over  with  stars  of 
gold  and  rich  rubies.  A  profusion  of  shining  black  hair 
fell  in  waves  and  curls  almost  to  her  feet ;  but  her  face, 
from  forehead  to  chin,  was  completely  hidden  by  a  black 
velvet  mask.  In  one  hand,  exquisitely  small  and  white, 
she  held  a  gold  casket,  blazing  (like  her  dress)  with  rubies 
and  with  tlie  other  she  toyed  with  a  tame  viper,  that  had 
twined  itself  round  her  wrist.  This  was  doubtless  La 
Masque,  and  becoming  conscious  of  that  fact.  Sir  Norman 
made  her  a  low  and  courtly  bow.  She  returned  it  by  a 
slight  bend  of  tlie  head,  and  turning  toward  his  companion, 
spoke : 

"  You  here  again^  Mr.  Ormiston !  To  what  am  I  in- 
debted for  the  lionor  of  two  visits  in  two  days  ?  " 

Her  voice,  Sir  Norman  thought,  was  the  sweetest  he 
had  ever  hoctrd,  musical  as  a  chime  of  silver  bells,  soft  as 
the  tones  of  an  ^Eolian  harp  through  which  the  west  wind 
plays. 

"Madam,  I  am  aware  my  visits  are  undesired,"  said 

Ormiston,  with  a  flushing  check  and  slightly  tremulous 

');ce  ;  "but  I  have  merely  come  with  my  friend,  Sir  Nor- 

nn  Kingsley,  who  wishes  to  know  what  the  future  has 

m  store  for  him." 

Thus  invoked.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  stepped  forward, 
with  another  low  bow,  to  the  masked  lady.  ' 

"  Yes,  madam,  I  have  long  heard  that  those  fair  fingers 
can  withdraw  the  curtain  of  the  future,  and  I  have  come 
to  see  what  Dame  Destiny  is  going  to  do  for  me." 

"Sir  Norman  Kingsley  is  welcome,"  said  the  sweet 
voice,  "  and  shall  see  what  he  desires.  There  is  but  one 
condition,  that  he  will  keep  perfectly  silent ;  for  if  he 


THE  SORCERESS. 


IT 


speaks,  the  scene  he  beholds  will  vanish.    Come  for- 
ward!" 

Sir  Norman  compressed  his  lips  as  closely  as  if  they 
were  forever  hermetically  sealed,  and  came  forward  ac- 
cordingly. Leaning  over  the  edgo  of  the  ebony  caldron, 
he  found  that  it  contained  nothing  more  dreadful  than 
water,  for  he  labored  under  a  vague  and  unpleasant  idea 
that,  like  the  witches'  caldron  in  Macbeth,  it  might  be 
filled  with  serpents'  blood  and-  children's  brains.  La 
Masque  opened  her  golden  casket,  and  took  from  it  a  por- 
tion of  red  powder,  with  which  it  was  filled.  Casting  it  into 
the  caldron,  she  murmured  an  invocation  in  Sanscrit,  or 
Coptic,  or  some  other  unknown  tongue,  and  slowly  there 
arose  a  dense  cloud  of  dark-red  smoke,  that  nearly  filled 
the  room.  Had  Sir  Norman  ever  read  the  stor)'^  of  Alad- 
din, he  would  probably  have  thought  of  it  then ;  but  the 
young  courtier  did  not  greatly  affect  literature  of  any 
kind,  and  thought  of  nothing  now  but  of  seeing  something 
when  the  smoke  cleared  away.  It  was  rather  long  in  do- 
ing so,  and  when  it  did,  he  saw  nothing  at  last  but  his 
own  handsome,  half-serious,  half-incredulous  face;  but 
gradually  a  picture,  distinct  and  clear,  formed  itself  at 
the  bottom,  and  Sir  Norman  gazed  with  bewildered  eyes. 
He  saw  a  large  room  filled  with  a  sparkling  crowd,  many 
of  them  ladies,  splendidly  arrayed  and  flashing  in  jewels, 
and  foremost  among  them  stood  one  whose  beauty  sur- 
passed anything  he^ad  ever  before  dreamed  of.  She  wore 
the  robes  of  a  queen,  purple  and  ermine — diamonds  blazed 
on  the  beautiful  neck,  arms  and  fingers,  and  a  tiara  of  the 
same  brilliants  crowned  her  regal  head.  In  one  hand  she 
held  a  scepter ;  what  seemed  to  be  a  throne  was  behind 
her,  but  something  that  surprised  Sir  Norman  most  of  all 
was,  to  find  himself  standing  beside  her,  the  cynosure  of 
all  eyes.  While  he  yet  gazed  in  mingled  astonishment  and 
incredulity,  the  scene  faded  away,  and  another  took  its 
place.  This  time  a  dungeon-cell,  damp  and  dismal ;  walls, 
and  floor,  and  ceiling  covered  with  green  and  hideous  slime. 
A  small  lamp  stood  on  the  floor,  and  by  its  sickly,  watery 
gleam  he  saw  himself  again  standing,  pale  and  dejected, 
near  the  wall.  But  he  was  not  alone ;  the  same  glittering 
vision  ill  purple  and  diamonds  atood  before  him,  p.nd  sud- 


-  <l',-i! 


18 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEK. 


denly  he  drew  his  sword  and  plunged  it  up  to  the  hilt  in 
her  heart  I  The  beautiful  vision  fell  like  a  stone  at  his 
feet,  and  the  sword  was  drawn  ont  reeking  with  her  life- 
blood.  This  was  a  little  too  much  for  the  real  Sir  Norman, 
and  with  an  expression  of  indignant  consternation,  he 
sprung  upright.  Instantly  it  all  faded  away,  and  the 
reflection  of  his  own  excited  face  looked  up  at  him  from 
the  caldron. 

"  I  told  you  not  to  speak,"  said  La  Masque  quietly ;  "  but 
you  must  look  on  still  another  scene. 

Again  she  threw  a  portion  of  the  contents  of  the  casket 
into  the  caldron,  and  **  spake  aloud  the  words  of  power." 
Another  cloud  of  smoke  arose  and  filled  the  room,  and 
when  it  cleared  away.  Sir  Norman  beheld  a  third  and  less 
startling  sight.  The  scene  and  place  he  could  not  dis- 
cover, but  it  seemed  to  him  like  night  and  a  storm.  Two 
men  were  lying  on  the  ground,  and  bound  fast  together, 
it  appeared  to  him.  As  he  looked  it  faded  away,  and  once 
more  his  own  face  seemed  to  mock  him  in  the  clear  water. 

"  Do  you  know  those  two  last  figures  ?  asked  the  lady. 

**  I  do,"  said  Sir  Norman,  promptly ;  **  it  was  Ormiston 
and  myself." 

"  Right  I  and  one  of  them  was  dead." 

"Dead!"  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  with  a  perceptible 
start.    "  Which  one,  madam." 

"  If  you  cannot  tell  that,  neither  can  I.  If  there  is  any- 
thing further  you  wish  to  see,  I  am  quite  willing  to  show 
it  to  you." 

"  I'm  obliged  to  you,"  said  Sir  Norman,  stepping  back ; 
"  but  no  more  at  present,  thank  you.  Do  you  mean  to 
say,  madam,  that  I'm  some  day  to  murder  a  lady,  especial- 
ly one  so  beautiful  as  she  I  just  now  saw  ?  " 

**  I  have  said  nothing — all  you've  seen  will  come  to  pass, 
and  whether  your  destiny  be  for  good  or  evil,  I  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it,  except,"  said  the  sweet  voice,  earnest- 
ly, « that  if  La  Masque  could  strew  Sir  Norman  Kingsley's 
pathway  with  roses,  she  would  most  assuredly  do  so." 

"  Madam,  you  are  too  kind,"  said  that  young  gentleman, 
laying  his  hand  on  his  heart,  while  Ormiston  scowled 
darkly — "  more  especially  as  I've  the  misfortune  to  be  a 
perfect  sti-anger  to  you." 


THE  SORCERESS. 


10 


«*  Not  so,  Sir  Norman.  I  have  known  you  this  many  a 
day ;  and  before  long  we  shall  be  better  acquainted.  Per- 
mit me  to  wish  you  good-evening." 

At  this  gentle  hint,  both  gentlemen  bowed  themselves 
out,  and  soon  found  themselves  out  in  the  street,  with 
very  different  expressions  of  countenance — Sir  Norman 
looking  considerably  pleased  and  decidedly  puzzled,  mid 
Mr.  Ormiston  looking  savagely  and  uncompromisingly 
jealous.  The  animated  skeleton  who  had  admitted  them 
closed  the  door  after  them ;  and  the  two  friends  stood  in 
the  twilight  on  London  Bridge. 


20 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEICN. 


CHAPTER  n. 


THE   DEAD  BRIDE. 


<•  Well,"  said  Ormiston,  drawing  a  long  breath,  **  what 
do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

**  Think  ?  Don't  ask  me  yet,"  said  Sir  Norman,  look- 
ing rather  bewildered.  "  I'm  in  such  a  state  of  mystifica- 
tion that  I  don't  rightly  know  whether  I'm  standing  on 
my  head  or  feet.  For  one  thing,  I  have  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  your  masked  lady-love  must  be  enchantingly 
beautiful." 

**  Have  I  not  told  you  that  a  thousand  times,  oh,  thou 
of  little  faith  ?  But  why  have  you  come  to  such  a  con- 
clusion?" 

"  Because  no  woman  with  such  a  figure,  such  a  voice, 
and  such  hands  could  be  otherwise." 

"  I  knew  you  would  own  it  some  day.  Do  you  wonder 
now  that  I  love  her  ?  " 

"  Oh  1  as  to  loving  her,"  said  Sir  Norman,  coolly,  "  that's 
quite  another  tiling.  I  could  no  more  love  her  for  her 
hands,  voice  and  shape,  than  I  could  a  figure  in  wood  or 
wax ;  but  I  admire  her  vastly,  and  think  her  extremely 
clever.  I  will  never  forgot  that  face  in  the  caldron.  It 
was  the  most  exquisitely-beautiful  I  ever  saw." 

"  In  love  with  the  shadow  of  a  face  ?  Why,  you  are  a 
thousandfold  more  absurd  than  I." 

"  No,"  said  Sir  Norman,  thoughtfully.  « I  don't  know 
as  I'm  in  love  with  it ;  but  if  ever  I  see  a  living  face  like 
it,  I  certainly  shall  be.  How  did  La  Masque  do  it,  I  won- 
der ?  " 

"You  had  better  ask  her,"  said  Ormiston,  bitterly. 
"  She  seems  to  have  taken  an  unusual  interest  in  you  at 
first  sight.     She  would  strew  your  path  with  roses,  for- 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


21 


It 


I  a 


I  at 
)r- 


Booth  I  Nothing  earthly,  I  believe,  would  make  her  say 
anything  half  so  tender  to  me." 

Sir  Norman  laughed,  and  stroked  his  mustache  compla- 
cently. 

"  All  a  matter  of  taste,  my  dear  fellow ;  and  these  wo- 
men are  noted  for  their  perfection  in  that  line.  I  begin 
t>  admire  La  Masque  more  and  more,  and  I  think  you  had 
better  give  up  the  chase,  and  let  me  take  your  place.  1 
don't  believe  you  have  the  ghost  of  a  chance,  Or- 
miston." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  myself,"  said  Ormiston,  with  a  des- 
perate face  ;  "  but  until  the  plague  carries  me  off,  I  can- 
not give  her  up ;  and  the  sooner  that  happens  the  better. 
Hal  what  is  this?" 

It  was  a  piercing  shriek — no  unusuiil  sound ;  and,  as  he 
spoke,  the  door  of  an  adjoining  house  was  flung  open,  a 
woman  rushed  wildly  out,  fled  down  an  adjoining  street, 
and  disappeared. 

Sir  Norman  and  his  companion  looked  at  each  other, 
and  then  at  the  house. 

"  What's  all  this  about  ?  "  demanded  Ormiston. 

"  That's  a  question  I  can't  take  it  upon  myself  to  an- 
swer," said  Sir  Norman ;  "  and  the  only  way  to  solve  the 
mystery  is  to  go  in  and  see." 

"  It  may  be  the  plague,"  said  Ormiston,  hesitating. 
**  Yet  the  house  is  not  marked.  There  is  a  watchman.  I 
will  ask  him." 

The  man  with  the  halberd  in  his  hand  was  walking  up 
and  down  before  an  adjoining  house,  bearing  the  ominous 
red  cross  and  piteous  inscription :  "  Lord  have  mercy  on 
us!" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir,"  was  his  answer  to  Ormiston.  **  If 
any  one  there  has  the  plague,  they  must  have  +aken  it 
lately ;  for  I  heard  this  morning  there  was  to  be  a  adding 
there  to-night." 

*'  I  never  heard  of  any  one  screaming  in  that  fashion 
about  a  wedding,"  said  Ormiston,  doubtfully.  «  Do  you 
know  who  lives  there  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.  I  only  came  here,  myself,  yesterday,  but  two 
or  three  times  to-day  I  have  seen  a  very  beautiful  young 
lady  looking  out  of  the  window." 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


Ormiston  thanked  the  man,  and  went  back  to  report 
to  his  friend. 

"A  beautiful  young  lady  1 "  said  Sir  Norman,  with 
energy.  "  Tlien  I  mean  to  go  directly  up  and  see  about 
it,  and  you  can  follow  or  not,  just  as  you  please." 

So  saying,  Sir  Norman  entered  the  open  doorway,  and 
found  himself  in  a  long  hall,  flanked  by  a  couple  of  doors 
on  each  side.  These  he  opened  in  rapid  succession,  find- 
ing nothing  but  silence  and  solitude  ;  and  Ormiston — who, 
upon  reflection,  chose  to  follow — ran  up  a  wide  and  sweep- 
ing staircase  at  the  end  of  the  hall.  Sir  Norman  followed 
him,  and  they  came  to  a  hall  similar  to  the  one  below.  A 
door  to  the  right  lay  open ;  and  both  entered  without 
ceremony,  and  looked  around. 

The  room  was  spacious,  and  richly  furnished.  Just 
enough  light  stole  through  the  oriel  wnidow  at  the  further 
end,  draped  with  crimson  satin,  embroidered  with  gold,  to 
show  it.  The  floor  was  of  stained  wood  of  many  colors,  ar- 
ranged in  fanciful  mosaics,  and  strewn  with  Turkish  rugs 
and  Persian  mats  of  gorgeous  colors.  The  walls  were 
carved,  the  ceiling  corniced,  and  all  fretted  with  gold  net- 
work and  gilded  moldings.  On  a  couch  covered  with 
crimson  satin,  like  the  window  drapery,  lay  a  cithern  and 
some  loose  sheets  of  music.  Near  it  was  a  small  marble 
table,  covered  with  books  and  drawings,  with  a  decanter 
of  wine  and  an  exquisite  little  goblet  of  Bohemian  glass. 
The  marble  mantel  was  strewn  with  ornaments  of  porce- 
lain and  alabaster,  and  a  beautifully  carved  vase  of 
Parian  marble  stood  in  the  center,  filled  with  brilliant 
flowers.  A  great  mirror  reflected  back  the  room,  and  be- 
ne th  it  stood  a  toilet  table,  strewn  with  jewels,  laces,  per- 
fuae-bottles,  and  an  array  of  costly  little  feminine  trifles 
such  as  ladies  were  as  fond  of  two  centuries  ago  as  they 
are  to-day.  Evidently  it  was  a  lady's  chamber ;  for  in  a 
recess  near  the  window  stood  a  great  quaint-carved  bed- 
stead with  curtains  and  snowy  lace,  looped  back  with 
golden  arrows  and  scarlet  ribbons.  Some  one  lay  on  it, 
too — at  least,  Ormiston  thought  so ;  and  he  went  cau- 
tiously forward,  drew  the  curtain  and  looked  down. 

"  Great  Heaven  I  what  a  beautiful  face  1 "  v/as  his  cry, 
as  he  bent  still  further  down. 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


28 


a 


"  What  the  plague  is  the  matter  ?  *»  asked  Sir  Norman, 
coming  forward. 

"  You  have  said  it,"  said  Ormiston,  recoiling.  ♦*  The 
plague  t«  the  matter.    There  lies  one  dead  of  it  I " 

Curiosity  proving  stronger  than  fear,  Sir  Norni:in 
stepped  forward  to  look  at  the  corpse.  It  was  a  young  j v: » ' 
with  a  face  as  lovely  as  a  i>oet*8  vision.  That  face  w  ts 
like  snow,  now;  and,  in  its  calm,  cold  majesty,  lookod  )»:• 
exquisitely  perfect  as  some  ancient  Grecian  stiituo.  The 
low,  pearly  brow,  the  sweet,  beautiful  lips,  the  dolicale 
oval  outline  of  countenance,  were  perfect.  The  eyes  wt-re 
closed,  and  the  long  dark  lashes  rested  on  th(!  ivory  chtH'ks. 
A  profusion  of  shining  dark  hair  fell  in  elal)(>rate  curls 
over  her  neck  and  shoulders.  Her  dress  was  that  of  a, 
bride  ;  a  robe  of  white  satin  brocaded  witli  silver,  fairly 
dazzling  in  its  sliining  radiance,  and  as  brief  in  the  article 
of  sleeves  and  neck  as  that  of  any  modern  belle.  A  circlet 
of  pearls  were  clasped  round  the  snow-wliite  throat,  and 
bracelets  of  the  same  jewels  encircled  the  snowy  taper 
arms.  On  her  head,  she  wore  a  bridal  wreath  and  vail — 
the  former  of  jewels,  the  latter  falling  round  her  like  a 
cloud  of  mist.  Everything  was  perftijt,  from  tlie  wreath 
and  veil  to  the  tiny  sandaled  feet ;  and  lying  there  in  her 
mute  repose  she  looked  more  like  some  exquisite  piece 
of  sculpture  than  anything  that  had  ever  lived  and  moved 
in  this  groveling  world  of  ours.  But  from  one  shoulder 
the  dress  had  been  pulled  down,  and  there  lay  a  great 
livid,  purple  plague-spot ! 

"Come  away  !"  said  Ormiston,  catching  his  companion 
by  the  arm.    "  It  is  death  to  remain  here  I  " 

Sir  Norman  had  been  standing  like  one  in  a  trance,  from 
which  this  address  roused  him,  and  he  grasped  Ormiston's 
shoulder  almost  frantically. 

"  Look  there,  Ormiston!  There  lies  the  very  face 
that  sorceress  showed  me,  fifteen  minutes  ago,  in  her  in- 
fernal caldron  I  I  would  know  it  at  the  other  end  of  the 
world !" 

"  Are  you  sure  ?  "  said  Ormiston,  glancing  again  with 
new  curiosity  at  the  marble  face.  "  I  never  saw  anything 
half  so  beautiful  in  all  my  life  j  but  you  see  sh^  is  deadQt 
the  plague," 


24 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  Dead  ?  Oh,  she  cannot  be !  Nothing  so  perfect  could 
die!" 

"  T.ook  there,"  said  Ormiston,  pointing  to  the  plague- 
spot.  "  Thej'e  is  the  fakil  tokeii !  For  Heaven's  sake  let 
U6  go  out  ol'  this,  or  we  will  share  the  same  fate  before 
morning ! " 

But  Sir  Norman  did  not  move — could  not  move ;  lie 
stood  there  rooted  to  the  spot  by  the  spell  of  that  lovely, 
lifeless  fj^ce. 

Usuiilly  the  plague  left  its  victims  hideous,  ghastly, 
discolored,  and  covered  with  blotches;  but  in  this  case 
there  was  nothing  to  mar  the  perfect  beauty  of  the  satin- 
smooth  skin,  but  that  one  dreadful  mark. 

There  Sir  Norman  stood  in  his  trance,  as  motionless  as 
if  some  genii  out  of  the  "Arabian  Nights"  had  suddenly 
turned  him  into  stone  (a  trick  they  were  much  addicted 
to),  and  destined  him  to  remain  there  an  orname-ital  fix- 
ture forever.  Orm:ston  looked  at  him  distractedly,  un- 
certain whether  Uy  try  moral  suasion  or  to  take  him  by 
the  collar  and  drag  him  headlong  dov/n  the  stairs,  when 
a  providential  but  rather  dismal  circumstance  came  to 
his  relief.  A  cart  came  rattling  along  the  street,  a  bell 
was  loudly  rung,  and  a  hoarse  voice  arose  with  it : 

"  Bring  out  your  dead  I  bring  out  your  dead  I " 

Ormiston  rushed  down-stairs  to  inteicept  the  dead- 
cart,  already  almost  full,  on  its  way  to  the  plague-pit. 
The  driver  stopped  at  his  call,  and  instantly  followed  him 
up- stairs,  and  into  the  room.  Glancing  at  the  body  with 
the  iTtinost  sangfroid^  he  touched  the  dress,  and  indiffer- 
enth  remarked: 

"  A  bride,  I  should  say,  and  an  uncommonly  handsome 
one,  too.  We'll  just  take  her  along  as  she  is,  and  strip 
these  nice  things  off  the  body  when  we  get  it  to  the  plague- 
pit." 

So  saying,  he  wrapped  her  in  the  sheet,  and  directuig 
Ormiston  to  take  hold  of  the  two  lower  ends,  took  the 
upper  corners  himself,  with  the  air  of  a  man  quite  used  to 
that  sort  of  thing.  Ormiston  recoiled  from  touching  it, 
and  Sir  Norman,  seeing  what  they  were  about  to  do,  and 
knowing  there  was  no  help  for  it,  made  up  his  mind,  like 
a  sensible  young  man  as  he  was^  to  congeal  his  feelings, 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


25 


and  caught  hold  of  the  sheet  himself.  In  this  fnshion  the 
dead  bride  was  carried  down  stairs,  and  laid  upon  a  shut- 
ter on  the  top  of  a  pile  of  bodies  in  the  dead-'^iut. 

It  was  now  almost  dark,  and  as  the  cart  started,  the 
great  clock  of  St.  Paul's  struck  eight.  St.  JVIichaers,  St. 
Alban's,  and  others  took  up  the  sound ;  and  the  two  yoi.ng 
men  paused  to  listen.  For  many  weeks  the  sky  hud  Uen 
clear,  brilliant,  and  blue  ;  but  on  this  night  dark  clduds 
were  scudding  in  wild  unrest  across  it,  and  the  air  was 
oppressing] y  close  and  sultry. 

"  Where  are  you  going  now  ?  "  said  Ormiston.  "  Are 
you  for  Whitehall  to-night?" 

"  Ko,"  said  Sir  Norman,  rather  dejectedly,  turniug  to 
follow  the  pest-cart.  "  I  am  for  the  plague-pit  in  Fins- 
bury  fields !  " 

"Vonsense,  man!"  exclaimed  Ormiston,  energetically, 
"what  will  take  you  there?  Yon  surely  are  not  mad 
enough  to  fellow  the  body  of  tliat  dead  girl  ?" 

"I  shall  follow  it.  You  can  come  or  not,  just  as  you 
please." 

"Oh  I  if  you  are  determined,  I  will  go  with  you,  of 
course  ;  but  it  is  thr;  craziest  freak  I  ever  heard  of.  After 
this,  you  need  never  laugh  at  me." 

"I  never  v/iil,"  said  Sir  Norman,  moodily  ;  "for  if  you 
love  a  face  you  have  never  seen,  I  love  one  I  have  only 
looked  on  when  dead.  Does  it  not  seem  sacrilege  to 
throw  any  one  so  like  an  angel  into  that  horrible  plague- 
pit." 

"  I  never  saw  an  angel,"  said  Ormiston,  as  he  and  his 
friend  started  to  go  after  the  dead-cart.  "  And  I  dare  say 
there  have  been  scores  as  beautiful  as  that  poor  girl  thrown 
into  the  plague-pit  before  now.  I  wonder  why  the  house 
has  been  deserted,  and  if  she  was  really  a  bride.  The 
bridegroom  could  not  have  loved  her  much,  I  fancy,  or  not 
even  the  pestilence  could  have  scared  him  away." 

"  But,  Ormiston,  what  an  extraordinary  thing  it  is,  that 
it  should  be  precisely  the  same  face  that  the  fortune- 
teller showed  me!  There  she  was  alive,  and  here  she  is 
dead  ;  so  I've  lost  all  f}uth  in  La  Masque  foreV(u\ ' 

Ormiston  lon^Tod  doultfiil. 

**  Al'e  you  {yfila  sure?  it  is  thQ  same^  Kingjsley  ?  " 


r 


26 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"Quite  sure?"  said  Sir  Norman,  indignantly.  "Of 
course  I  am!  Do  you  think  I  could  be  niistake}i  in  such 
a  case  ?  I  tell  you  I  would  know  the  face  in  Kamschatka 
or  the  North  Pole ;  for  I  don't  believe  there  ever  was 
such  another  created." 

"  So  be  it,  then  !  Your  object,  of  course,  in  followiji;? 
that  cart  is  to  take  a  last  Jook  at  her  ?  " 

"  Precisely  so.  Don't  talk  ;  I  feel  in  no  mood  for  it  ju.st 
at  present." 

Ormiston  smiled  to  himself,  and  did  not  talk,  accord- 
ingly ;  and  in  silence  the  two  friends  followed  the  gloomy 
dead-cart.  A  faint  young  moon,  pale  and  sickly,  v/as 
struggling  dimly  through  drifts  of  dark  clouds,  and  lighted 
the  lonesome,  dreary  streets  with  a  wan,  watery  glimmer. 
For  weeks  the  weather  had  been  brilliantly  line — the  days 
all  sunshine,  the  nights  all  moonlight;  but  now  Ormiston, 
looking  up  at  the  troubled  face  ofthe  sky,  concluded  men- 
tally that  the  Lord  Mayor  had  selected  an  unpropitious 
night  for  the  grand  illumination.  Sir  Norman,  with  his 
eyes  on  the  pest-cart  and  the  long  white  figure  therein, 
took  no  heed  of  anything  in  the  heaven  above  or  earth 
beneath,  and  strode  along  in  dismal  silence  till  they 
reached,  at  last,  their  journey's  end. 

As  the  cart  stopped,  the  two  young  men  approached  the 
edge  of  the  plague-pit,  and  looked  in  with  a  shudder. 
Truly  it  was  a  horrible  sight,  that  heaving,  putrid  sea  of 
corruption ;  for  the  bodies  of  the  miserable  victims  were 
thrown  in  cartfuls,  and  only  covered  with  a  handful  of 
earth  and  quicklime.  Here  and  there,  through  the  crack- 
ing and  sinking  surface,  could  be  seen  protruding  a  fair 
white  arm,  or  a  baby  face  mingled  with  the  long,  dark 
ti  esses  of  maidens,  the  golden  curls  of  children,  and  the 
white  hairs  of  old  age.  The  pestilential  effluvia  arising 
from  the  dreadful  mass  was  so  overpowering  that  both 
shrunk  back,  faint  and  sick,  after  a  moment's  survey.  It 
was  indeed,  as  Sir  Norman  had  said,  a  horrible  grave 
wherein  to  lie. 

Meantime  the  driver,  with  an  eye  to  business,  and  no 
time  for  such  nonsense  as  melancholy  moralizing,  had  laid 
the  body  of  the  young  girl  on  the  ground,  and  briskly 
tuyi^^d  his  Qart  and  dumped  the  remainder  of  his  load  iatq 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


ar 


the  pit.  Then,  having  flung  a  few  handfuls  of  clay  over 
it,  he  unwound  the  sheet,  and  kneeling  beside  the  body, 
prepared  to  remove  the  Jewels.  The  rays  of  the  moon 
and  his  dark-lantern  fell  on  the  lovely,  snow-white  face 
together,  and  Sir  Normaii  groaned  despairingly  as  he  saw 
its  death-cold  rigidity.  The  man  had  stripjjed  the  rings 
off  the  fingers,  the  bracelets  off  the  arms ;  but  as  he  was 
about  to  perform  the  same  operation  towards  the  necklace, 
he  was  stopped  by  a  startling  interruption  enough.  In 
his  haste,  the  clasp  entered  the  beautiful  neck,  inflicting  a 
deep  scratch  from  which  the  blood  spouted ;  and  at  the 
same  instant  the  dead  girl  opened  her  eyes,  with  a  shrill 
cry.  Uttering  a  yell  of  terror,  as  well  he  might,  the  man 
sprung  back  and  gazed  at  her  with  horror,  believing  that 
his  sacrilegious  robbery  had  brought  the  dead  to  life. 
Even  the  two  young  men — albeit  neither  of  them  given  to 
nervousness  or  cowardice — recoiled  for  an  instant  and 
stared  aghast.  Then,  as  the  whole  truth  struck  them, 
that  the  girl  had  been  in  a  deep  swoon  and  not  dead,  both 
simultaneously  darted  forward,  and,  forgetting  all  fear  of 
infection,  knelt  by  her  side.  A  pair  of  great  lustrous  black 
were  staring  wildly  around,  and  fixed  themselves  first  on 
one  face  and  then  on  the  other. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  with  a  terrified  look, 
as  she  strove  to  raise  herself  on  her  elbow,  and  fell  in- 
stantaneously back  with  a  cry  of  agony,  as  she  felt  for  the 
first  time  the  throbbing  anguish  of  the  wound. 

"  You  are  with  friends,  dear  lady  I  "  said  Sir  Norman, 
in  a  voice  quite  tremulous  between  astonishment  and 
delight.    "  Fear  nothing,  for  you  shall  be  saved." 

The  great  black  eyes  turned  wildly  upon  him,  while  a 
fierce  spasm  convulsed  the  beautiful  face. 

"  Oh,  my  God,  I  remember !  I  have  the  plague  I " 
And,  with  a  prolonged  shriek  of  anguish,  that  thrilled 
even  to  the  hardened  heart  of  the  dead-cart  driver,  the 
girl  fell  back  senseless  again. 

Sir  Norman  Kinj^;sley  sprung  to  his  feet,  and  with  more 
the  air  of  a  frantic  lunatic  than  a  responsible  young  Eng- 
lish knight,  caught  the  cold  form  in  his  arms,  laid  it  in 
the  dead-cart,  and  was  about  springing  into  the  driver's 
seat,  when  that  individual  indignantly  interposed. 


fiS 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  Come,  now ;  none  of  that  I  If  you  were  the  king  him- 
self, you  shouldn't  run  away  with  my  cart  in  that  fashion ; 
so  you  just  get  out  of  my  place  as  fast  as  you  can !  " 

"  My  clear  Kingsley,  what  are  you  about  to  do  ?  "  asked 
Oriniston,  catching  his  excited  friend  by  the  arm. 

"  Do ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  in  a  high  key.  "  Can't 
/>.u  see  that  for  yourself?  And  I'm  going  to  have  that 
,  ri  cured  of  the  plague,  if  there  is  such  a  thing  as  a  doctor 
to  be  had  for  love  or  money,  in  London." 

"  You  had  better  have  her  taken  to  the  pest-house  at 
once,  then;  there  are  chirurgeons  and  nurses  enough 
there." 

"  To  the  pest-house  ?  Why,  man,  I  might  as  well  have 
her  thrown  into  the  plague-pit  there,  at  once !  Not  I !  I 
,  shall  have  her  taken  to  my  own  house,  and  there  properly 
cared  for,  and  this  good  fellow  will  drive  her  there  in- 
stantly." 

Sir  Norman  backed  this  insinuation  by  putting  a  broad 
gold-piece  into  the  driver's  hand,  which  instantly  produced 
a  magical  effect  on  his  rather  surly  countenance. 

"Certainly,  sir,"  he  began,  springing  into  his  seat 
with  alacrity.  "Where  shall  I  drive  the  young  lady 
to?" 

"  Follow  me,"  said  Sir  Norman.  "  Come  along,  Ormis- 
ton."  And  seizing  his  friend  by  the  arm,  he  hurried  him 
along  with  a  velocity  rather  uncomfortable,  considering 
they  both  woie  cloaks,  and  the  night  was  excessively  sul- 
try. The  gloomy  vehicle  and  its  fainting  burden  followed 
close  behind. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do  with  her  ?  "  asked  Ormiston, 
as  soon  as  he  found  breath  enough  to  speak. 

"  Haven't  I  told  you  ?  "  said  Sir  Norman,  impatiently 
"  Take  her  home,  of  course." 

"  And  after  that  ?  " 

"  Go  for  a  doctor.'* 

"And  after  that?" 

"  Take  care  of  her  till  she  gets  well." 

«  And  after  that  ?  " 

«  Why,  find  ou^  her  history  and  all  about  her." 

"And  after  that?" 

«*  After  that !    Alter  that !   How  do  I  know  what  after 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


29 


that?"  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  rather  fiercely.    "Ormis- 
ton,  what  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Ormiston  laughed. 

«  And  after  that  you'll  marry  her,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  Ferhaps  I  may,  if  she  will  have  me.  And  what  if  I 
do?" 

«  Oh,  nothing !  Only  it  struck  me  you  may  be  saving 
another  man's  wife." 

•  "  That's  true ! "  said  Sir  Norman,  in  a  subdued  tone, 
"and  if  such  should  unhappily  be  the  case,  nothing  will 
remain  but  to  live  in  hopes  that  he  may  be  carried  off  by 
the  plague." 

"  Pray  Heaven  that  we  may  not  be  carried  off  by  it  our- 
selves I "  said  Ormiston,  with  a  slight  shudder.  "  I  shall 
dream  of  nothing  but  that  horrible  plague-pit  for  a  week. 
If  it  were  not  for  La  Masque,  I  would  not  stay  another 
hour  in  this  pest-stricken  city." 

"  Here  we  are,"  was  Sir  Norman's  rather  inapposite  an- 
swer, as  they  entered  Piccadilly,  and  stopped  before'a  large 
and  handsome  house,  whose  gloomy  portal  was  faintly 
illuminated  by  a  large  lamp.  "  Here,  my  man,  just  carry 
the  lady  in." 

He  unlocked  the  door  as  he  spoke,  and  led  the  way 
across  a  long  hall  to  a  sleeping  chamber,  elegantly  fitted 
up.  The  man  placed  the  body  on  the  bed  and  departed, 
while  Sir  Norman,  seizing  a  hand-bell,  rung  a  peal  that 
brought  a  staid-looking  housekeeper  to  the  scene  directly. 
Seeing  a  lady,  young  and  beautiful,  in  bridal  robes,  lying 
apparently  dead  on  her  young  master's  bed  at  that  hour 
of  the  night,  the  discreet  matron,  over  whose  virtuous  head 
fifty  years  and  a  snow-white  cap  had  passed,  started  back 
with  a  slight  scream. 

^'Gracious  me.  Sir  Norman  I  What  on  earth  is  the 
meaning  of  this  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Preston,"  began  Sir  Norman,  blandly, 
"  this  yoimg  lady  is  ill  of  the  plagues  and — " 

But  all  further  explanation  was  cut  short  by  a  horrified 
shriek  from  the  old  lady,  and  a  prec  pitate  rush  from  the 
room.  Down-stairs  she  flew  informing  the  other  servmils 
as  she  went,  between  her  scj  cams,  and  when  Sir  Norman, 
in  a  violent  rage,  wexil  in  &earch  of  her  five  minutes  after, 


80 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


:li 


he  found  not  only  the  kitchen,  but  the  whole  house  de* 
serted. 

**  iVell  ?  "  said  Ormiston,  as  Sir  Norman  strode  back, 
looking  fiery  hot  and  savagely  angry. 

"Well,  they  have  all  fled,  every  man  and  woman  of 
them,  the — "  Sir  Norman  ground  out  something  not  quite 
proper,  behind  his  mustache.  **  I  shall  havt;  to  go  for  thr 
doctor  myself.  Doctor  Forbes  is  a  friend  of  mine,  aiui 
lives  near ;  and  you,"  looking  at  him  rather  doubtfully, 
"  would  you  mind  staying  here,  lest  she  should  recover 
consciousness  before  I  return  ?  " 

«  To  tell  you  the  truth,"  said  Ormiston,  with  charming 
frankness,  "  I  should  I  The  lady  is  extremely  beautiful, 
I  must  o  vn ;  but  she  looks  uncomfortably  corpse-like  at 
this  present  moment.  I  do  not  wish  to  die  of  the  plague, 
either,  until  I  see  La  Masque  once  more ;  and  so,  if  it  is  all 
the  same  to  you,  my  dear  friend,  I  will  have  the  greatest 
pleasure  in  stepping  round  with  you  to  the  doctor's." 

Sir  Norman,  though  he  did  not  much  approve  of  this, 
could  not  very  well  object  and  the  two  sallied  forth 
together.  Walking  a  short  distance  up  Piccadilly,  they 
struck  off  into  a  by  street,  and  soon  reached  the  house 
they  were  in  search  of.  Sir  Norman  knocked  Icudly  at 
the  door,  which  was  opened  by  the  doctor  himself.  Briefly 
and  rapidly  Sir  Norman  informed  him  how  and  where  his 
services  were  required ;  and  the  doctor  being  always  pro- 
vided with  everything  necessary  for  such  cases,  set  out 
with  him  immediately.  Fifteen  minutes  after  leaving  his 
own  house  Sir  Norman  was  back  there  again,  and  stand- 
ing in  his  own  chamber.  But  a  simultaneous  exclamation 
of  amazement  and  consternation  broke  from  him  and  Or- 
miston, as  on  entering  the  room  they  found  the  bed  empty, 
and  the  lady  gone  I 

A  dead  pause  followed,  during  which  the  three  looked 
blankly  at  the  bed,  and  then  at  each  other.  The  scene, 
no  doubt,  would  have  been  ludicrous  enough  to  a 
third  party ;  but  neither  of  our  trio  could  see  any- 
thing whatever  to  laugh  at.  Ormiston  was  the  first  to 
speak. 

"  What  in  Heaven's  name  has  happened  ?  "  he  wonder- 
ingly  exclaimedv 


I 


THE  DEAD  BRIDE. 


81 


«*  Some  one  has  been  here,"  said  Sir  Norman,  tumW 
very  pale,  "and  carried  her  off  while  we  were  cone  " 

ahl^V"^  fT^".  *^^  ^''''^^'"  ^^'^  *^e  doctor, '« you 
should  have  locked  your  door.  Sir  Norman;  but  it  may 
not  be  too  late  yet."  '  ^ 

Acting  on  the  hint.  Sir  Norman  seized  the  lamp  bum- 
f^  cai  tiie  table,  and  started  on  the  search.  His  two 
friends  followed  him,  and, 

"The  highest,  the  lowest,  the  loveliest  spot, 
They  searched  for  the  lady,  and  found  W  not." 

No,  though,  there  was  not  the  slightest  trace  of  robbers 
or  intruders  neither  was  there  the^slightest  trace  of  the 
beautiful  plague-patient.    Everything  in  the  house  was 

wrgone.''  ''  '^'''^'  ''"''  ^^'  '^'  ^'^''  shining  vision 


m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


» 


t 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE    COURT    PAGE, 


) 


i 
I 


The  search  was  given  over  at  last  in  despair,  and  the 
doctor  took  his  hat  and  disappeared.  Sir  Norman  and 
Orraiston  stopped  in  the  lower  hall  and  looked  at  each 
other  in  mute  Jimaze. 

"  What  can  it  all  mean  ?  "  asked  Ormiston,  appealing 
more  to  society  at  large  than  to  his  bewildered  companion. 

"  I  haven't  the  faintest  idea,"  said  Sir  Norman,  distract- 
edly ;  "  only  I  am  pretty  certain,  if  I  don't  find  her,  I 
shall  do  something  so  desperate  that  the  plague  will  be  a 
trifle  compared  to  it !" 

"  It  seems  almost  impossible  that  she  can  have  been 
carried  off — doesn't  it?  " 

"  If  she  has  I  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  "and  I  find  out 
the  abductor,  he  won't  have  a  whole  bone  in  his  body  two 
minutes  after  1 " 

"  And  yet  more  impossible  that  she  can  have  gone  of 
herself,"  pursued  Ormiston,  with  the  air  of  one  entering 
upon  an  abstruse  subject,  and  takmg  no  heed  whatever  ot 
his  companion's  marginal  notes. 

"  Gone  of  herself !  Is  the  man  crazy  ?  "  inquired  Sir 
Norman,  with  a  stare.  "  Fifteen  minutes  before,  we  left 
Mtr  dead,  or  in  a  dead  swoon,  which  is  all  the  same  in 
Greek,  and  yet  he  talks  of  her  getting  up  and  going  ofl: 
herself  I " 

"  In  fact,  the  only  way  to  get  at  the  bottom  of  the  mys- 
tery," said  Ormiston,  "  is  to  go  in  search  of  her.  Sleeping, 
I  suppose,  is  out  of  the  question." 

"  Of  course  it  is  !  I  shall  never  sleep  again  till  I  find 
her  1 " 

They  passed  out,  and  Sir  Norman  this  time  took  the  pre- 
caution of  turning  the  key,  thereby  fulfilling  the  adag*^  oi 
Rocking  the  stable  door  when  the  steed  was  stol::i     'i'*i(j 


ro 


[S- 

id 

le- 
u 


THE  COURT  PAGE. 


88 


night  had  grown  darker  and  hotter ;  and  as  they  walked 
along  the  clock  of  St.  Paul's  tolled  nine. 

"  And  now,  where  shall  we  go  V  "  inquired  Sir  Norman, 
as  they  rapidly  hurried  on. 

"I  should  recommend  visiting  the  house  where  we 
found  her  first ;  if  not  there,  then  we  can  try  the  pest- 
house." 

Sir  Norman  shuddered. 

"  Heaven  forefend  she  should  be  there  1  It  is  the  most 
mysterious  thing  ever  I  heard  of ! " 

"  What  do  you  think  now  of  La  Masque's  prediction — 
dare  you  doubt  still  ?  " 

"  Ormiston,  I  don't  know  what  to  think.  It  is  the  samo 
face  I  saw  and  yet — "  ' » 

»*  Well— and  yet?" 

"  I  can't  tell  you —  I  am  fairly  bewildered.  If  we  don't 
find  the  lady  at  her  own  house,  I  have  half  a  mind  to  apply 
to  your  friend.  La  Masque,  again." 

**  The  wisest  thing  you  could  do,  my  dear  fellow.  If 
any  one  knows  your  unfortunate  beloved's  whereabouts, 
it  is  La  Masque,  depend  upon  it." 

"  That's  settled,  then ;  and  now,  don't  talk,  for  conver- 
sation at  this  smart  pace  I  don't  admire." 

Ormiston,  like  the  amiable,  obedient  young  man  that  he 
WP3,  instantly  held  his  tongue,  and  they  strode  along  at  a 
breathless  pace.  There  was  an  unusual  concourse  of  men 
abroad  that  night,  watching  the  gloomy  face  of  the  sky, 
and  waiting  tlie  hour  of  midnight  to  kindle  the  myriad  of 
fires ;  and  as  the  two  tall,  dark  figures  went  rapidly  by, 
all  supposed  it  to  be  a  case  of  life  or  death.  In  the  eyes 
of  one  of  the  party,  perhaps  it  was ;  and  neither  halted  till 
they  came  once  more  in  sight  of  the  house,  whence  a  short 
time  previously  they  had  carried  the  death-cold  bride.  A 
row  of  lamps  over  the  door-portals  shed  a  yellow,  uncer- 
tain light  around,  while  the  lights  of  barges  and  wherries 
were  so\vn  like  stars  along  the  river. 

«  There  is  the  house,"  cried  Ormiston,  and  both  paused 
to  take  breath ;  "  and  I  am  about  at  the  last  gasp.  I  won- 
der if  your  pretty  mistress  would  feel  grateful  if  she  knew 
what  I  have  come  through  to-night  for  her  sweet  sake  ?  " 

^  There  are  no  lights,"  said  Sir  Norman,  glancing  an^ 


84 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


M 


iously  up  at  the  darkened  front  of  the  liouse  ;  "  even  the 
link  before  the  door  is  unlit.     Surely  she  cannot  be  there." 

"That  remains  to  be  seen,  though  I'm  very  doubtful 
about  it,  myself.     Ah  !  who  have  we  here?" 

The  door  of  the  house  in  question  opened,  as  L<^  spoke, 
and  a  figure — a  min\s  figure,  wearing  a  slouched  hat  and 
long,  dark  cloak,  came  slowly  out.  lie  stopped  before  the 
house  and  looked  at  it  long  and  earnestly  ;  and,  by  the 
twinkling  liglit  of  the  lamps,  the  friends  saw  enough  of 
him  to  know  he  was  young  and  distinguished-looking. 

"  I  should  not  wonder  in  the  least  if  that  were  the  bride- 
groom," whispered  Ormiston,  maliciously. 

Sir  Norman  turned  pale  with  jealousy,  and  laid  his  hand 
on  his  sword,  with  a  quick  and  natural  impulse  to  make 
the  bride  a  widow  forthwith,  But  he  checked  the  desire 
for  an  instant,  as  the  brigandish-looking  gentleman,  after 
a  prolonged  stare  at  the  premises,  stepped  up  to  the  watch- 
man, who  had  given  them  their  information  an  hour  or 
two  before,  and  who  was  still  at  his  post.  The  friends 
could  not  be  seen,  but  they  could  hear,  and  they  did  so, 
very  earnestly  indeed. 

"  Can  you  tell  me,  my  friend,"  began  the  cloaked  un- 
known, «  what  has  become  of  the  people  residing  in  yonder 
house  ?  " 

The  watchman  held  his  lamp  up  to  the  face  of  the  in- 
terlocutor— a  handsome  face  by  the  way,  what  could  be 
seen  of  it — and  indulged  himself  in  a  prolonged  survey. 

"  Well  I  "  said  the  gentleman,  impatiently,  "  have  you 
no  tongue,  fellow  ?    Where  are  they,  I  say  ?  " 

"  Blessed  if  I  know,"  said  the  watchman.  "  I  wasn't 
set  here  to  keep  guard  over  them,  was  I  ?  It  looks  like 
it,  though,"  said  the  man,  in  parenthesis ;  "  for  this  makes 
twice  to-night  I've  been  asked  questions  about  it." 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  gentleman,  with  a  slight  start.  "  Who 
asked  you  before,  pray  ?  " 

"  Two  young  gentlemen ;  lords,  I  expect,  by  their  dress. 
Somebody  ran  screaming  out  of  the  house,  and  they 
wanted  to  know  what  was  wrong." 

"  Well  ?  "  said  the  stranger  breathlessly,  "  and  then  ?  " 

"  And  then,  as  I  couldn't  tell  them,  they  went  in  to  see 
for  themselves,  and  shortly  after  came  out  with  a  bo'ij 


THE  COURT  PAGE. 


86 


the 


[•ess. 
bhey 

In?" 

see 


wrapped  in  a  sheet,  which  they  put  in  a  pest-cart  going 
by,  and  had  it  buried,  I  suppose,  with  the  rest  in  the 
plague-pit." 

The  stranger  fairly  staggered  back,  and  caught  at  a  pil- 
lar near  for  support.  For  nearly  ten  minutes  he  stood 
perfectly  motionless,  and  then,  without  a  word,  started 
up  and  walked  rapidly  awuy.  The  friends  looked  alter 
him  curiously  till  he  was  out  of  sight. 

"  So  she  is  not  there,"  said  Ormiston  ;  "  and  our  mysteri- 
ous friend  in  the  cloak  is  as  much  at  a  loss  as  we  are  our- 
selves. Where  shall  we  go  next — to  La  Masque  or  the 
pest-house  ?  " 

"  To  La  Masque — I  hate  the  idea  of  the  pest-house ! " 

"  She  may  be  there,  nevertheless ;  and,  under  present 
circumstances,  it  is  the  best  place  for  her." 

**  Don't  talk  of  it  1 "  said  Sir  Norman,  impatiently.  "  I 
do  not  and  will  not  believe  she  is  there.  If  the  sorceress 
shows  her  to  me  in  the  caldron  again  I  verily  believe  I 
shall  jump  in  headforemost." 

"  And  I  verily  believe  we  will  not  find  La  Masque  at 
home.  She  wanders  through  the  streets  at  all  hours,  but 
particularly  affects  the  night." 

"  We  shall  try,  however.     Come  along !  "  -  *. 

The  house  of  the  sorceress  was  but  a  short  distance 
from  that  of  Sir  Norman's  plague- stricken  lady-love's; 
and  shod  with  a  sort  of  seven-league  boots,  they  soon 
reached  it.     Like  the   other,  it  was  all  dark  and  de- 

"  This  is  the  house,"  said  Ormiston,  looking  at  it  doubt- 
fully, "  but  where  is  La  Masque  ?  " 

"  Here  I  "  said  a  silvery  voice  at  his  elbow ;  and,  turn- 
serted. 

ing  round,  they  saw  a  tall,  slender  figure,  cloaked,  hooded 
and  masked.  "  Surely,  you  two  do  not  want  me  again  to- 
night?" 

Both  gentlemen  doffed  their  plumed  hats,  and  simul- 
taneously bowed. 

"  Fortune  favors  us,"  said  Sir  Norman.  "  Yes,  madam, 
it  is  even  so;  once  again  to-night  we  would  tax  your 
skill." 

"  Well,  what  do  you  wish  to  know  ?  " 

"  Madams,  \ve  are  in  the  street." 


86 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


**  Sir,  Tm  aware  of  that.    Pray  proceed." 

**  Will  you  not  have  the  goodness  to  permit  us  to  enter  ?  * 
said  Sir  Norman,  inclined  to  feel  offended.  "  How  can 
you  tell  us  what  we  wish  to  know,  here  ?  " 

"  That  is  my  secret,"  said  the  sweet  voice.  "Probal.ly 
Sir  Norman  Kingsley  wishes  to  know  something  of  tiie 
fair  lady  I  showed  him  some  time  ago  ?  " 

"  Madam,  you've  guessed  it.  It  is  for  that  purpose  1 
have  sought  you  now  ! " 

"Then  you  have  seen  her  already  ?  "  , 

.  « I  have." 

«  And  love  her  ?  " 

«  With  all  my  heart." 

"  A  rapid  flame,"  said  the  musical  voice,  in  a  tone  that 
had  just  a  thought  of  sarcasm,  "  for  one  of  whose  very  ex- 
istence you  did  not  dream  two  hours  ago." 

"  Madam  La  Masque,"  said  Norman,  flushed  and  haughty, 
"  Love  is  not  a  question  of  time." 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,"  said  the  lady,  somewhat  sadly, 
"  I  am  aware  of  that.  Tell  me  what  you  wish  to  know, 
and  if  it  bo  in  my  power,  you  shall  know  it." 

"  A  thousand  thanks !  Tell  me,  then,  is  she  whom  I 
seek  living  or  dead  ?  " 

"  She  is  alive." 

"  She  has  the  plague  ?  "  said  Sir  Norman: 

"  I  know  it." 

"  Will  she  recover  ?  "        • 

"She  will." 

"  Where  is  she  now  ?  " 

La  Masque  hesitated  and  seemed  uncertain  whether  or 
not  to  reply.     Sir  Norman  passionately  broke  in : 

"  Tell  me,  madam,  for  I  must  know !  " 

"  Then  you  shall ;  but  remember,  if  you  get  into  danger 
you  must  not  blame  me." 

"  Blame  you  I  No,  I  think  I  would  hardly  do  that. 
Where  am  I  to  seek  for  her  ?  " 

"  Two  miles  from  London  beyond  Newgate,"  said  the 
mask,  "  there  stands  the  ruins  of  what  was  long  ago  a 
hunting-lodge,  now  a  crumbling  skeleton,  roofless  and 
windowless,  and  said,  by  rumor,  to  be  haunted.  Perhaps 
you  have  seen  or  heard  of  it?  " 


THE  COURT  PAGE. 


87 


or 


1  lijive  seen  it  a  hundred  timcM,"  broke  in  Sir  Norman. 
«« Suii'ly,  you  do  not  mean  to  my  she  is  there  I  " 

«  ( io  there  and  you  will  see.  (Jo  there  to-night,  and  loso 
no  time — that   is,  supposing  you   can  procure  a  license." 

"  I  have  one  already.  I  have  a  pass  from  the  lord 
mayor  to  come  and  go  from  the  city  when  I  please." 

"  G(K)d !     Then  you'll  go  to-night  ?  " 

"  I  will  go.  I  might  as  well  do  that  as  anything  else,  I 
suppose ;  but  it  is  quite  impossible,"  said  Sir  Norman, 
firmly,  not  to  say  obstinately,  "  that  sho  can  be  there." 

*•  Very  well — you'll  see.  You  had  better  go  on  horse- 
back, if  you  desire  to  be  back  in  time  to  witness  the  illu- 
mination." 

"  I  don't  particularly  desire  to  see  the  illumination,  as 
I  know  of ;  but  I  will  ride,  nevertheless.  What  am  I  to 
do  when  I  get  there  ?  " 

**  You  will  enter  the  ruins,  and  go  on  till  you  discover 
a  spiral  staircase  leading  to  what  was  once  the  vaults. 
The  flags  of  these  vaults  are  loose  from  age,  and  if  you 
should  desire  to  remove  any  of  them  you  v/ill  probably 
not  find  it  an  impossibility." 

"Why  should  I  desire  to  remove  them?"  asked  Sir 
Norman,  who  felt  dubious,  and  disappointed,  and  inclined 
to  be  dogmatical. 

"Why,  you  may  see  a  glimmering  of  light — hear 
strange  noises ;  and,  if  you  remove  the  stones,  may  pos- 
sibly soe  strange  sights.  As  I  told  you  before,  it  is 
rumored  to  be  haunted,  which  is  true  enough,  though  not 
in  the  way  they  suspect ;  and  so  the  fools  and  the  com- 
,  mon  herd  stay  away.'* 

"  And  if  I  am  discovered  peeping  like  a  rascally  valet, 
what  will  be  the  consequences  ?  " 

"  Very  unpleasant  ones  to  you ;  but  you  need  not  be 
discovered  if  you  take  care.    Ah  1  Look  there  I " 

She  pointed  to  the  river,  and  both  her  companions 
looked.  A  barge  gayly  painted  and  decorated,  with  a 
light  in  prow  and  stern,  came  gliding  up  among  less  pre- 
tentious craft,  and  stopped  at  the  foot  of  a  flight  of  stairs 
leading  to  the  bridge.  It  contained  four  persons — the 
oarsman,  two  cavaliers  sitting  in  the  stern,  and  a  lad  in 
thft  rich  livery  of  a  court-page  in  the  act  of  springing  out 


t 


'1 
ii 

! 


88 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I 


I 


ii 


i 


Nothing  very  wonderful  in  all  this  ;  and  Sir  Norman  and 
Ormiston  looked  at  her  for  an  explanation. 

"  Do  you  know  those  two  gentlemen  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Certainly,"  replied  Sir  Norman,  promptly ;  "  one  is 
the  Duke  of  York,  the  other  the  Earl  of  Rochester." 

"  And  that  page,  to  which  of  them  does  he  belong?  " 

"The  page!"  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a  stare,  as  he 
•  «'aued  forward  to  look*  "pray  madam,  what  has  the 
p  ige  to  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  Look  and  8e(^ ! " 

The  two  peers  had  ascended  the  stairs,  and  were  already 
on  the  bridge,  ^he  page  loitered  behind,  talking,  as  it 
seemed,  to  the  waterman. 

**  He  wears  the  livery  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester,"  said 
Ormiston,  speakmg  for  the  first  time,  "  but  I  cannot  see 
his  face." 

«  He  will  follow  presently,  and  be  sure  you  see  it  then  I 
Possibly  you  may  not  find  it  entirely  new  to  you." 

Sh'3  drew  back  into  the  shadow  as  she  spoke ;  and  the  two 
nobles,  as  they  advanced,  talking  earnestly,  beheld  Sir 
Norman  and  Ormiston.  Both  raised  their  hats  with  a 
look  of  recognition,  and  the  salute  was  courteously  re- 
turned. 

"  Good-night,  gentlemen,"  said  Lord  Rochester ;  "  a  hot 
e  ;ening,  is  it  not  ?  Have  you  come  here  to  witness  the 
illumination  ?  " 

"Hardly,"  said  Sir  Norman;  "we  have  come  for  a 
very  different  purpose,  my  lord." 

"  The  fires  will  have  one  good  effect,"  said  Ormiston, 
laughing;  "if  they  clear  the  air  and  drive  away  this 
stifling  atmosphere." 

"Pray  God  they  drive  away  the  plague!"  said  the 
Duke  of  York,  as  he  and  his  companion  passed  from 
view. 

The  page  sprung  up  the  stairs  after  them,  humming  as 
he  came,  one  of  his  master's  love-ditties — songs,  saith 
tradition,  savoring  anything  but  the  odor  of  sanctity. 
With  the  warning  of  La  Masque  fresh  in  their  minds, 
both  looked  at  him  earnestly.  His  gay  livery  was  that  of 
Lord  Rochester,  and  became  his  graceful  figure  well,  as 
he  marched  along  with  a  jaunty  swagger^one  hand  on  hi:? 


THE  COURT  PAGE. 


89 


^gas 
jaith 
tity. 
Inds, 
It  of 
|1,  as 
his 


side,  and  the  other  toying  with  a  beautiful  little  spaniel 
that  frisked  in  open  violation  of  the  lord  mayor's  orders, 
commanding  all  dogs,  great  and  small,  to  be  put  to  death 
as  propagators  of  the  pestilence.  In  passing,  the  lad 
turned  his  face  toward  them  for  a  moment— a  bright, 
saucy,  handsome  face  it  was — and  the  next  instant  he 
went  round  an  angle  and  disappeared.  Ormiston  c-up- 
pressed  an  oath.  Sir  Norman  stifled  a  cry  of  amazement 
— for  both  recognized  that  beautiful,  colorless  face,  tiiuse 
perfect  features,  and  great,  black,  lustrous  eyes.  It  was 
the  face  of  the  lady  they  had  saved  from  tlie  plague-pit. 

"Am  I  sane  or  mad?"  inquired  Sir  Norman,  looking 
helplessly  about  him  for  informations.  "  Surely  that  is 
she  we  are  in  search  of." 

"  It  certainly  is !  "  said  Ormiston.  "  Where  are  the 
wonders  of  this  night  to  end  ?  " 

"  Satan  and  La  Masque  only  know ;  for  they  both  seem 
to  have  united  to  drive  me  mad.     Where  is  slie  ?  " 

"  Where,  indeed  ?  "  said  Ormiston  ;  "  where  is  last 
year's  snow?"  And  Sir  Norman,  looking  round  at  the 
the  spot  where  she  had  stood  a  moment  before,  found 
that  she,  too,  had  disappeared. 


- 1 


the 
trom 


»       V 


^ 


iii 


40 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  STRANGER. 

The  two  friends  looked  at  each  other  in  impressible 
silence  for  a  moment,  and  spake  never  a  word.  Kot 
that  they  were  astonished — they  were  long  past  the  power 
of  that  emotion  ;  and  if  a  cloud  had  dropped  from  the  sky 
at  their  feet,  they  would  probably  have  looked  at  it  pas- 
sively, and  vaguely  wondered  if  the  rest  would  follow. 
Sir  Norman,  especially,  had  sunk  into  a  state  of  mind 
that  words  are  faint  and  feeble  to  describe.  Ormiston, 
not  being  quite  so  far  gone,  was  the  first  to  open  his  lips. 

"  Upon  my  honor.  Sir  Norman,  this  is  the  most  astonish- 
ing thing  I  ever  heard  of.  That  certainly  was  the  face 
of  our  half-dead  bride !  What,  in  the  name  of  all  the 
gods,  can  it  mean,  I  wonder  ?  '* 

"  I  have  given  up  wondering,"  said  Sir  Norman,  in  the 
same  helpless  tone.  "  And  if  the  earth  was  to  open  and 
swallow  London  up,  I  should  not  be  the  least  surprised. 
One  thing  is  certain :  the  lady  we  are  seeking  and  that 
page  are  one  and  the  same." 

"  And  yet  La  Masque  told  you  that  she  was  two  miles 
from  the  city  in  the  haunted  ruin  i  and  La  Masque  most 
assuredly  knows." 

*'  I  have  no  doubt  she  is  there.  I  shall  not  be  the  least 
astonished  if  I  find  her  in  every  street  between  this  and 
Newgate." 

"  Really,  it  is  a  most  singular  affair  !  First  you  see  her 
in  the  magic  caldron  ;  then  we  find  her  dead  ;  then,  when 
within  an  ace  of  being  buried,  she  comes  to  life  ;  then  we 
leave  her  lifeless  as  a  marble  statue,  shut  up  in  your 
room,  and,  fifteen  minutes  after,  she  vanishes  as  mysteri- 
ously as  a  fairy  in  a  nursery  legend.  And,  lastly,  she  turns 
up  in  the  shape  of  a  court- page,  nnd  swaggers  along  London 
bridge  at  thi^  hour  of  the  night,  chanting  a  love- song. 


« 


THE  STRANGER. 


41 


^«- 


Faith  I  it  would  puzzle  the  sphinx  herself  to  read  this 
riddle,  I've  a  notion  1 " 

«  I,  for  one,  shall  never  try  to  read  it,"  said  Sir  Norman. 
"  I  am  about  tired  of  this  labyrinth  of  mysteries,  and 
shall  leave  time  and  La  Masque  to  unravel  them  at  their 
leisure." 

"Then  you  mean  to  give  up  the  pursuit?  " 

"  Not  exactly.  I  love  this  mysterious  beauty  too  v.ol. 
to  do  that ;  and  when  next  I  find  her,  be  it  where  it  m:'y, 
I  shall  take  care  she  does  not  slip  so  easily  through  my 
fingers." 

« I  can  not  forget  that  page,"  said  Ormiston,  musingly. 
"  It  is  singular,  since  he  wears  the  Earl  of  Rochester's 
livery,  that  we  have  never  seen  him  before  among  his 
followers.  Are  you  quite  sure,  Sir  Norman,  that  you 
have  not?" 

**  Seen  him  ?  Don't  be  absurd,  Ormiston !  Do  you 
think  I  could  ever  forget  such  a  face  as  that  ?  " 

"  It  would  not  be  easy,  I  confess.  One  does  not  see 
such  every  day.  And  yet — and  yet — it  is  most  extraor- 
dinary I " 

"  I  shall  ask  Rochester  about  him  the  first  thing  to- 
morrow ;  and  unless  he  is  an  optical  illusion — which  I 
vow  I  half-believe  is  the  case — I  will  come  at  the  truth  in 
spite  of  your  demoniac  friend.  La  Masque  I  " 

"  Then  you  do  not  mean  to  look  for  him  to-night  ?  " 

"  Look  for  him  ?  I  might  as  well  look  for  a  needle  in  a 
haystack.  Not  1 1  I  have  promised  La  Masque  to  visit 
the  old  ruins,  and  there  I  shall  go  forthwith.  Will  you 
accompany  me  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  I  have  a  word  to  say  to  La  Masque ;  and 
you  and  she  kept  talking  so  busily,  I  had  no  cliance  tc 
put  it  in." 

Sir  Norman  laughed. 

**  Besides,  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  a  word  you  would  not 
like  to  utter  in  the  presence  of  a  third  party  even  though 
that  third  party  be  your  friend  and  Pythias,  Kingsley, 
Do  you  mean  to  stay  here  like  a  plague-sentinel  imtil  she 
returns  ?  " 

"  Possibly ;  or  if  I  get  tired  I  may  set  out  in  search  of 
ber.    When  do  you  return  ?  " 


mmm 


ii 


42 


THE  MroNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  Tlie  Fates,  that  seem  to  make  a  foot-ball  of  my  best 
affections,  and  kick  them  as  they  please,  only  know.  If 
nothing  happens — which,  being  interpreted,  means,  if  I 
am  still  in  the  land  of  the  living — I  shall  surely  be  back 
by  daybreak." 

"  And  I  shall  be  anxious  about  that  time  to  hear  the  re- 
sult of  your  night's  adventure ;  so  where  shall  we  meet  ?  " 

"  Why  not  here  ?  it  is  as  good  a  place  as  any." 

"  With  all  my  heart.  Where  do  you  propose  getting  a 
horse?" 

"  At  the  King's  Arms — not  a  stone's  throw  from  here. 
Farewell." 

« Good-night,  and  God  speed  you ! "  said  Ormiston. 
And  wrapping  his  cloak  close  about  him,  he  leaned  against 
the  dootw:iy,  and  watching  the  dancing  lights  on  the  river, 
prepared  to  await  the  return  of  La  Masque. 

With  his  head  full  of  the  adventures  and  misadventures 
of  the  night,  Sir  Norman  walked  thouglitf  uUy  on  until  he 
reached  the  King's  Arms — a  low  inn  on  the  bank  of  the 
river.  To  his  dipi  ay  he  fomid  the  house  shut  up,  and 
bearing  the  dismai  mark  and  inscription  of  the  pestilence. 
While  he  stood  contemplating  it  in  perplexity,  a  watch- 
man, on  guard  before  another  plague-stricken  house,  ad- 
vanced and  informed  him  that  the  whole  family  had  per- 
ished of  the  disease,  and  that  the  landlord  himself,  the 
last  survivor,  had  been  carried  off  not  twenty  minutes  be- 
fore to  the  plague-pit. 

"  But,"  added  the  man,  seeing  Sir  Norman's  look  of 
annoyance,  and  being  informed  what  he  wanted,  "  there 
are  two  or  three  horses  around  there  in  the  stable,  and 
you  may  as  well  help  yourself ;  for  if  you  don't  take 
them,  somebody  else  will."  •  ' 

This  philosophic  logic  struck  Sir  Norman  as  being  so 
extremely  reasonable,  that  without  more  ado  he  stepped 
round  to  the  stables  and  selected  the  best  it  contained. 
Before  proceeding  on  his  journey,  it  occurred  to  him  that, 
having  been  handling  a  plague-stricken  patient,  it  would 
be  a  good  thing  to  get  his  clothes  fumigated ;  so  he 
stepped  into  a  neighboring  apothecary's  shop  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  provided  himself  also  with  a  bottle  of  aromatic 
yiiie^r.    Thus    prepared  for  the    worst.  Sir  Norm^ 


THE  STRANGER. 


48 


Bprung  on  his  horse  like  a  second  Don  Quixote  striding 
his  good  steed  Rozinante,  and  sallied  forth  in  quest  of  ad- 
ventures. These,  for  a  short  time,  were  of  rather  a  dis- 
mal character ;  for,  hearing  the  noise  of  horse's  hoofs  in 
the  silent  streets  at  thai  hour  of  the  night,  the  people 
opened  their  doors  as  he  passed  by,  thinking  it  the  pest- 
cart,  and  brought  forth  many  a  miserable  victim  of  tli<^ 
pestilence.  Averting  his  head  from  the  revolting  spec- 
tacles. Sir  Norman  held  the  bottle  of  vinegar  to  his  nos- 
trils, and  rode  rapidly  till  he  reached  Newgate.  There 
he  was  stopped  until  his  bill  of  health  was  examined, 
and  that  small  manuscript  being  found  all  right,  he  was 
permitted  to  pass  on  in  peace.  Everywhere  he  went,  the 
trail  of  the  serpent  was  visible  over  all.  Death  and  Deso- 
lation went  hand  in  hand.  Outside  as  well  as  inside  the 
gates  great  piles  of  wood  and  coal  were  arranged,  waiting 
only  the  midnight  hour  to  be  fired.  Here,  however,  no  one 
seemed  to  be  stirring ;  and  no  sound  broke  the  silence 
but  the  distant  rumble  of  the  death-cart,  and  the  ringing 
of  the  driver's  bell.  There  were  lights  in  some  of  the 
houses,  but  many  of  them  were  dark  and  deserted,  and 
nearly  every  one  bore  the  red  cross  of  the  plague. 

It  was  a  gloomy  scene  and  hour,  and  Sir  Noriran's 
heart  turned  sick  within  him  as  he  noticed  the  ruiii  and 
devastation  the  pestilence  had  everywhere  wrought.  And 
he  remembered,  with  a  shudder,  the  prediction  of  Lilly,  the 
astrologer,  that  the  paved  streets  of  London  would  be 
like  green  fields,  and  the  living  be  no  longer  able  to  bury 
the  dead.  Long  before  this,  he  had  grown  hardened  and 
accustomed  to  death  from  its  very  frequence ;  but  now, 
as  he  looked  round  him  he  almost  resolved  to  ride  on,  and 
return  no  more  to  London  till  the  plague  should  have  left 
it.  But  then  came  the  thought  of  his  unknown  lady-love, 
and  with  it  the  reflection  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  find 
her ;  and  rousing  himself  from  his  melancholy  reverie,  he 
rode  on  at  a  brisker  pace,  heroically  resolved  to  brave  the 
plague  or  any  other  emergency,  for  her  sake.  Full  of 
this  laudable  and  lover-like  resolution,  he  had  got  on 
about  a  mile  further,  when  he  was  suddenly  checked  in 
his  rapid  career  by  an  exciting,  but  in  no  way  surprising 
little  incident. 


i 


I 


44 


THE  MIDKIGHT  QUEEN. 


During  the  last  few  yards,  Sir  Norman  had  come  with- 
in sight  of  another  horseman,  riding  on  at  rkther  a  leisurely 
pace,  considering  the  place  and  the  hour.  Suddenly,  three 
other  horsemen  came  galloping  down  upon  him,  and  the 
leader,  presenting  a  piotol  at  his  head,  requested  him  in  a 
stentorian  voice  for  his  money  or  his  life.  By  way  of  re- 
ply, tlie  stranger  instantly  produced  a  pistol  of  his  own, 
and  before  the  astonished  highwayman  could  comprehend 
the  possibility  of  such  an  act,  discharged  it  full  in  his  face. 
With  a  loud  yell  the  robber  reeled  and  fell  from  his  sad- 
dle, and  in  a  twinkling  both  his  companions  fired  their 
pistols  at  the  traveler,  and  bore,  with  a  simultaneous  cry 
of  rage,  down  upon  him.  Neither  of  the  shots  had  taken 
effect,  but  the  two  enraged  highwaymen  would  have  made 
short  work  of  their  victim  had  not  Sir  Norman,  like  a  true 
knight,  ridden  to  the  rescue.  Drawing  his  sword  with 
one  vigorous  blow  he  placed  another  of  the  assassins 
hora  de  combat ;  and,  delighted  with  the  idea  of  a  fight  to 
stir  his  stagnant  blood,  was  turning  (like  a  second  St. 
George  at  the  Dragon)  upon  the  other,  when  that  indi- 
vidual, thinking  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,  in- 
stantaneously turned  tail  and  fled.  The  whole  brisk  little 
episode  had  not  occupied  five  minutes,  and  Sir  Norman  was 
scarcely  aware  the  fight  had  begun  before  it  had  trium- 
phantly ended. 

"  Short,  sharp  and  decisive  1 "  was  the  stranger's  cool 
criticism,  as  he  deliberately  wiped  his  blood-stained  sword 
and  placed  it  in  a  velvet  scabbard.  "  Our  friends,  there, 
got  more  than  they  bargained  for,  I  fancy.  Though,  but 
for  you,  sir,"  he  said,  politely  raising  his  hat  and  bowing, 
"  I  should  probably  have  been  ere  this  in  heaven,  or — the 
other  place." 

Sir  Norman,  deeply  edified  by  the  easy  sang  froid  of 
the  speaker,  turned  to  take  a  second  look  at  him.  There 
was  very  little  light ;  for  the  night  had  grown  darker  as 
it  wore  on,  and  the  few  stars  that  had  glimmered  faintly 
had  hid  their  diminished  heads  behind  the  piles  of  inky 
clouds.  Still,  there  was  a  sort  of  faint  phosphorescent 
light  whitening  t^xC  gloom,  and  by  it  Sir  Norman's  keen 
bright  eyes  discovered  that  he  wore  a  long  dark  cloak 
and  slouched  hat.    He  discovered  something  else,  too — 


THE  STRANGER. 


45 


that  he  had  seen  that  hat  and  cloak,  and  the  man  mside 
of  them,  on  London  Bridge  not  an  hour  before.  It  struck 
Sir  Norman  there  was  a  sort  of  fatality  in  their  meeting ; 
and  his  pulses  quickened  a  trifle,  as  he  thought  that  he 
might  be  speaking  to  the  husband  of  the  lady  for  whom 
he  had  so  suddenly  conceived  such  a  rash  and  inordinate 
attachment.  That  personage  meantime  having  reloaded 
his  pistol,  with  a  self-possession  refreshing  to  witness,  re- 
placed it  in  his  doublet,  gathered  up  the  reins,  and  glan- 
cing slightly  at  his  companion,  spoke  again : 

"  I  should  thank  you  for  saving  my  life,  I  suppose,  but 
thanking  people  is  so  little  in  my  line  that  I  scarcely 
know  how  to  set  al)out  it.  Perhaps,  my  dear  sir,  you  will 
take  the  will  for  the  deed." 

"  An  original,  this,"  thought  Sir  Norman,  "  whoever 
he  is."  Then  aloud :  "  Pray  don't  trouble  yourself  about 
thanks,  sir.  I  should  have  done  precisely  the  same  for 
the  highwaymen,  had  you  been  three  to  one  over 
them." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it  in  the  least ;  nevertheless,  I  feel  grate- 
ful, for  you  have  saved  my  life  all  the  same,  and  you  have 
never  seen  me  before." 

«  There  you  are  mistaken,"  said  Sir  Norman,  quietly, 
"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  scarce  an  hour  ago." 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  stranger,  in  an  altered  tone,  "  and 
where?" 

"  On  London  Bridge." 

"  I  did  not  see  you. " 

*•  Very  likely,  but  I  was  there  none  the  less." 

«  Do  you  know  me  ?  "  said  the  stranger  ;  and  Sir  Nor- 
man could  see  he  was  gazing  at  him  sharply  from  under 
the  shadow  of  the  slouched  hat. 

"  I  have  not  that  honor,  but  I  hope  to  do  so  before  we 
part." 

"  It  was  quite  dark  when  you  saw  me  on  the  bridge — 
how  comes  it,  then,  that  you  recollect  me  so  well  ?  " 

"  I  have  always  been  blessed  with  an  excellent  memory," 
said  Sir  Norman,  carelessly,  "and  I  knew  your  dress, 
face  and  voice  instantly." 

"  My  voice !  Then  you  heard  me  speak — probably  to 
the  watchman  guarduig  a  plague-stricken  house  ?  " 


46 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I<  i 


1 


1  M 
■ 

!i     f 


! 


l' 


**  Exactly !  and  the  subject  being  a  very  interesting  one, 
I  listened  to  all  you  said." 

"  Indeed  I  and  what  possible  interest  could  the  subject 
have  for  you,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  A  deeper  one  than  you  think  I "  said  Sir  Norman, 
with  a  slight  tremor  in  his  voice  as  he  thought  of  the  lady, 
"the  watchman  told  you  the  lady  you  sought  for 
been  carried  away  dead,  thrown  into  the  plague- 
pit!» 

"Well,"  cried  the  stranger,  sarting  violently,  **  and  was 
it  not  true?" 

«  Only  partly.  She  was  carried  away  in  the  pest-cart 
sure  enough,  but  she  was  not  thrown  into  the  plague- 
pit  ! " 

"  And  why  ?  " 

"  Because,  when  on  reaching  that  horrible  spot,  she  was 
found  to  be  alive !  " 

"  Good  Heaven !  And  what  then  ?  " 

"  Then  I  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  in  a  tone  almost  as  ex- 
cited as  his  own,  "  she  was  brought  to  the  house  of  a 
friend,  and  left  alone  for  a  few  minutes,  while  that  friend 
went  in  search  of  a  doctor.  On  returning  they  found 
her — where  do  you  think  ?  " 

"Where?" 

"Gone!"  said  Sir  Norman,  emphatically,  "spirited 
away  by  some  mysterious  agency ;  for  she  "ras  dying  of 
the  plague,  and  could  not  possibly  stir  hand  or  foot  her- 
self." 

"  Dying  of  the  plague,  oh,  Leoline  ! "  said  the  stranger, 
in  a  voice  full  of  pity  and  horror,  while  for  a  moment  he 
covered  his  face  with  his  hands. 

"  So  her  name  is  Leoline  ?  "  said  Sir  Norman  to  himself, 
"  I  have  found  that  out,  and  also  that  this  gentleman, 
whatever  he  may  be  to  her,  is  as  ignorant  of  her  where- 
abouts as  I  am  myself.  He  seems  in  trouble,  too.  I 
wonder  if  he  really  happens  to  be  her  husband  ?  " 

The  stranger  suddenly  lifted  his  head  and  favored  Sir 
Norman  with  a  long  and  searching  look. 

"  How  come  you  to  know  all  this.  Sir  Norman  Kings- 
ley  ?  "  he  asked,  abruptly. 

"  And  how  come  you  to  know  my  name  ?  "  demanded 


THE  STRANGER. 


47 


Sir  Norman,  very  much  amazed,  notwithstanding  hH 
assertion  that  nothing  would  astonish  him  more. 

"That  is  of  no  consequence!  Tell  me  how  youVe 
learned  all  this  ?  "  repeated  the  stranger,  in  a  tone  of  al- 
most stem  authority. 

Sir  Norman  started  and  stared.  That  voice  I  he  had 
heard  it  a  thousand  times  I  It  had  evidently  been  dis- 
guised before  ;  but  now,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment, 
the  stranger  was  thrown  off  his  guard,  and  it  became  per- 
fectly familiar.  But  where  had  he  heard  it?  For  the 
life  of  him.  Sir  Norman  could  not  tell,  yet  it  was  as  well 
known  to  him  as  his  own.  It  had  the  tone,  too,  of  one 
far  more  used  to  command  than  entreaty  ;  and  Sir  Norman, 
instead  of  getting  angry,  as  he  felt  he  ought  to  have  done, 
mechanically  answered : 

"The  watchman  told  you  of  two  young  men  who 
brought  her  out  and  laid  her  m  the  dead-cart — I  was  one 
of  the  two." 

"  And  who  was  the  other  ?  " 

"  A  friend  of  mine — one  Malcolm  Ormiston." 

"  Ah  I  I  know  him !  Pardon  my  abruptness,  Sir  Nor- 
man," said  the  stranger,  once  more  speaking  in  his  as- 
sumed suave  tone,  "  but  I  feel  deeply  on  this  subject,  and 
was  excited  at  the  moment.  You  spoke  of  her  being 
brought  to  the  house  of  a  friend — now,  who  may  that 
friend  be,  for  I  was  not  aware  that  she  had  any  ?  " 

"  So  I  judged,"  said  Sir  Norman,  rather  bitterly, "  or  she 
would  not  have  been  left  to  die  alone  of  the  plague.  She 
was  brought  to  my  house,  sir,  and  I  am  the  friend  who 
would  have  stood  by  her  to  the  last ! " 

Sir  Norman  sat  up  very  straight  and  haughty  on  his 
horse ;  and  had  it  been  daylight  he  would  have  seen  a 
slight  derisive  smile  pass  over  the  lips  of  his  companion. 

"  I  have  always  heard  that  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  was 
a  chivalrous  knight,"  he  said ;  "  but  I  scarcely  dreamed 
his  gallantry  would  have  carried  him  so  far  as  to  brave 
death  by  the  pestilence  for  the  sake  of  an  unknown  lady — 
however  beautiful.  I  wonder  you  did  not  carry  her  to 
thn  ]iest-house." 

"  Xo  doubt !  Those  who  could  desert  her  at  such  a  time 
would  probably  be  capable  of  that  or  any  other  basoness ' "' 


48 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUE^N. 


I 


■J 


"  My  good  friend,"  said  the  stranger,  calmly,  **  your  in- 
sinuation is  not  over-courteous,  but  I  can  forgive  it,  more 
for  the  sake  of  what  you've  done  for  her  to-night  than 
for  myself." 

Sir  Norman's  lip  curled. 

"  I'm  obliged  to  you !  And  now,  sir,  as  you  have  seen 
fit  to  question  me  in  this  free  and  easy  manner,  will  you 
pardon  me  if  I  take  the  liberty  of  returning  the  compli- 
ment, and  ask  you  a  few  in  return  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  pray  proceed.  Sir  Norman,"  said  the  stran- 
ger, blandly ;  "  you  are  at  liberty  to  ask  as  many  ques- 
tions as  you  please,  and — so  am  I  to  answer  them !  " 

"  I  answered  all  yours  unhesitatingly,  and  you  owe  it 
to  me  to  do  the  same,"  said  Sir  Norman,  somewhat 
haughtily.  "  In  the  first  place,  you  have  an  advantage  of 
me  which  I  neither  understand  nor  relish  ;  so,  to  place  us 
on  equal  terms,  will  you  have  the  goodness  to  tell  me 
your  name  ?  " 

"  Most  assuredly  I  My  name,"  said  the  stranger,  with 
glib  airiness,  "  is  Count  L'Estrange." 

"  A  name  unknown  to  me,"  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a 
piercing  look,  "  and  equally  unknown,  I  believe,  at  White- 
hall. There  is  a  Lord  L'Estrange  in  London ;  but  you 
and  he  are  certainly  not  one  and  the  same." 

«  My  friend  does  not  believe  me,"  said  the  count,  almost 
gayly — "  a  circumstance  I  regret,  but  cannot  help.  Is 
there  anything  else  Sir  Norman  wishes  to  know  ?  " 

"  If  you  do  not  answer  my  questions  truthfully,  there 
is  little  use  in  my  asking  them,"  said  Sii:  Norman,  bluntly. 
**Do  you  mean  to  say  you  are  a  foreigner?  " 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  is  at  perfect  liberty  to  answer 
that  question  as  he  pleases,"  replied  the  stranger,  with 
most  provoking  indifference. 

Sir  Norman's  eye  flashed,  and  his  hand  fell  on  his 
sword ;  but,  reflecting  that  the  count  might  find  it  in- 
convenient to  answer  any  more  questions  if  he  ran  him 
through,  he  restrained  himsdif  and  went  on : 

"  Sir,  you  are  impertinent,  but  that  is  of  no  consequence, 
just  now.    Who  was  that  lady — what  was  her  name  ?  " 

♦*  Leoline." 

«•  Was  she  your  wife  ?  *' 


If 


THE  STRANGER. 


40 


The  stranger  paused  for  a  moment,  as  if  reflecting 
whether  she  was  or  not,  and  then  said,  meditatively : 

**  No — I  don't  knov/  as  she  was.  On  the  whole,  I  am 
pretty  sure  she  was  not." 

Sir  Norman  felt  as  if  a  ton  weight  had  been  suddenly 
hoisted  from  the  region  of  his  heart. 

"  Was  she  anybody  else's  wife  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  I'm  inclined  to  think  that,  except  my- 
self, she  did  not  know  another  man  in  London." 

"Then  why  was  she  dressed  as  a  bride?"  inquired 
Sir  Norman,  rather  mystified. 

"  Was  she  ?  My  poor  Leoline !  "  said  the  stranger,  sad- 
ly. "Because — "  he  hesitated,  "because — in  short.  Sir 
Norman,"  said  the  stranger,  decidedly,  "I  decline  an- 
swering any  more  questions  I " 

"  I  shall  find  out  for  all  that,'*  said  Sir  Norman ;  "  and 
here  I  shall  bid  you  good-night,  for  this  by-path  leads  to 
my  destination." 

"  Good-night,"  said  the  stranger,  «  and  be  careful.  Sir 
Norman — remember,  the  plague  is  abroad." 

"  And  so  are  highwaymen ! "  called  Sir  Norman  after 
him,  a  little  maliciously  ;  but  a  careless  laugh  from  the 
stranger  was  the  only  reply  as  he  galloped  away. 


M 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEfiN. 


I' 


;.! 


I 


!  I 


\ 


I  if 


CHAPTER  V. 


THE    DWARF    AND   THB    RUIN. 


The  by-path  down  which  Sir  Norman  rode,  led  to  an 
inn,  "  The  Golden  Crown,"  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  ruin.  Not  wishing  to  take  his  horse  lest  it  should 
lead  to  discovery,  he  proposed  leaving  it  here  till  his  re- 
turn ;  and,  with  this  intention,  and  the  strong  desire  for 
a  glass  of  wine — for  tbe  heat  and  his  ride  made  him  ex- 
tremely thirsty — he  dismounted  at  the  door,  and  consign- 
ing the  animal  to  the  care  of  a  hostler,  he  entered  the  bar- 
room. It  was  not  the  most  inviting  place  in  the  world, 
this  same  bar-room — being  illy-lighted,  dim  with  tobacco- 
smoke,  and  pervaded  by  a  strong  spirituous  essence,  of 
stronger  drinks  than  malt  or  cold  water.  A  number  of 
men  were  loitering  about  smoking,  drinking  and  discuss- 
ing the  all-absorbing  topic  of  the  plague,  and  the  fires 
that  might  he  kindled.  There  was  a  moment's  pause  as 
Sir  Norman  entered,  took  a  seat  and  called  for  a  glass  of 
sack,  and  then  the  conversation  went  on  as  before. 
The  landlord  hastened  to  supply  his  wants  by  placing  a 
glass  and  a  bottle  of  wine  before  him,  and  Sir  Norman  fell 
to  helping  himself,  and  to  ruminating  deeply  on  the  events 
of  the  night.  Rather  melancholy  these  ruminations  were, 
though  to  do  the  young  gentleman  justice  sentimental 
melancholy  was  not  at  all  in  his  line ;  but  then  you  will 
please  to  recollect  he  was  in  love,  and  when  people  come 
to  that  state  they  are  no  longer  to  be  held  responsible 
either  for  their  thoughts  or  actions.  It  is  true  his  attack 
had  been  a  rapid  one,  but  it  was  no  less  severe  for  that ; 
and  if  any  evil-minded  critic  is  disposed  to  sneer  at  the 
suddenness  of  the  disorder,  I  have  only  to  say,  that  I 
know  from  observation,  not  to  speak  of  experience,  that 
love  at  first  sight  is  a  lainentable  fact,  and  no  myth. 


THE  DWARF  AND  THE  RUIN'. 


51 


rere, 

mtal 

will 

3ome 

jible 

Itack 

pat; 

the 

latl 

I  that 


Love  is  not  a  plant  that  requires  time  to  flourish,  but 
is  quite  capable  of  springing  up  like  the  gourd  of  Jonah, 
full  grown  in  a  moment.  Our  young  friend,  Sir  Norman, 
had  not  been  awai'e  of  the  existence  of  the  object  of  his 
affections  for  a  mucli  longer  space  than  two  hours  and  a 
half,  yet  he  had  already  got  to  such  a  pitch,  that  if  he  did 
not  speedily  find  her,  he  felt  he  would  do  something  sr 
desperate  as  to  shake  society  to  its  utmost  foundations 
The  very  mystery  of  the  affair  spurred  him  on,  and  tiie 
ijmantic  way  in  which  she  had  been  found,  saved  and 
disappeared,  threw  such  a  halo  of  interest  round  her,  that 
he  was  inclined  to  think  sometimeM  she  was  nothing  but 
a  shining  vision  from  another  world.  Those  dark,  splen- 
did eyes ;  that  lovely,  marble-like  face  ;  those  wavy  ebon 
tresses ;  that  exquisitely  exquisite  figure ;  yes,  he  felt 
they  were  all  a  great  deal  too  perfect  for  this  imperfect 
and  wicked  world.  Sir  Norman  was  in  a  very  bad  way, 
beyond  doubt,  but  no  worse  tl  in  millions  of  young  men 
before  and  after  him  ;  and  he  heaved  a  great  many  pro- 
found sighs,  and  drank  a  great  many  glasses  of  sack,  and 
came  to  the  sorrowful  conclusion  that  Dame  Fortune  was 
a  malicious  jade,  inclined  to  poke  fun  at  his  best  affec- 
tions, and  make  a  shuttlecock  of  his  heart  for  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  thought,  too,  of  Count  L'Estrange  ;  and  the 
longer  he  thought,  the  more  he  became  convinced  that  he 
knew  him  well,  and  had  met  him  often.  But  where  ? 
He  racked  his  brain  until,  between  love,  Leoline  and  the 
count,  he  got  that  delicate  organ  into  such  a  maze  of  be- 
wilderment and  distraction,  that  he  felt  he  would  be  a 
case  of  congestion,  shortly,  if  he  did  not  give  it  up.  That 
the  count's  voice  was  not  the  only  thing  about  him  as- 
sumed he  was  positive  ;  and  he  mentally  called  over  the 
muster-roll  of  his  past  friends,  who  spent  half  their  time 
at  Whitehall,  and  the  other  half  going  through  the  streets, 
making  love  to  the  honest  citizens'  pretty  wives  and 
daughters ;  but  none  of  them  answered  to  Count  L'Es- 
trange. He  could  scarcely  be  a  foreigner — he  spoke 
English  with  too  perfect  an  accent  to  be  that ;  and  then 
he  knew  him,  Sir  Norman,  as  if  he  had  been  his  brother. 
In  short,  there  was  no  use  driving:  himself  insMne  trying 
to  read  so  unreadable  riddle ;  and,  inwardly  (;onsijB:ning 


52 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I 
I 


-% 


lit 
H 


m    ii 


I 


the  mysterious  count  to  Old  Nick,  he  swallowed  anothet 
glass  of  sack,  and  quit  thinking  about  him. 

So  absorbed  had  Sir  Norman  been  in  his  own  mournful 
musings,  that  he  paid  no  attention  whatever  to  those 
around  him,  and  had  nearly  forgotten  their  very  presence, 
when  one  of  them,  with  a  loud  cry,  sprung  to  his  feet,  and 
then  fell  writhing  to  the  floor.  The  others,  in  dismay 
gathered  about  him,  but  the  next  instant  fell  back  with  a 
cry  of,  "  He  has  the  plague !  "  At  that  dreaded  announce- 
ment, half  of  them  scampered  off  incontinently ;  and  the 
other  half  with  the  landlord  at  their  head,  lifted  the  suf- 
ferer, whose  groans  and  cries  were  heart-rending,  and 
carried  him  out  of  the  hou^e.  Sir  Norman,  rather  dis- 
mayed himself,  had  risen  to  his  feet,  fully  aroused  from 
his  reverie,  and  found  himself  and  j  nother  in  Ividual  sole 
possessors  of  the  premises.  His  companion  he  could  not 
very  well  make  out ;  for  he  was  sitting,  or  rather  crouch- 
ing, in  a  remote  and  shadowy  corner,  where  nothing  was 
clearly  visible  but  the  glare  of  a  pair  of  fiery  eyes.  There 
was  a  great  redundancy  of  hair,  too,  about  his  head  and 
face,  indeed,  considerable  more  about  the  latter  than  there 
seemed  any  real  necessity  for,  and  even  with  the  imper- 
fect glimpse  he  caught  of  him,  the  young  man  set  him 
down  in  his  own  mind  as  about  as  hard-looking  a  customer 
as  he  had  ever  seen.  The  fiery  eyes  were  glaring  upon 
him  like  those  of  a  tiger,  tlirough  a  jungle  of  bushy  hair, 
but  their  owner  spoke  never  a  word,  though  the  other 
stared  back  with  compound  interest.  There  they  sat, 
beaming  upon  each  other — one  fiej'cei}',  the  other  cu- 
riously, until  the  reappearance  of  the  landlord  with  a  very 
lugubrious  and  woebegone  countenance.  It  struck  Sir 
Norman  that  it  was  about  time  to  start  for  the  ruins  and, 
with  an  eye  to  business,  he  turned  to  cross-examine  mine 
host  a  trifle. 

"  What  have  they  done  with  that  man  ?  "  he  asked  by 
way  of  preface. 

"Sent  him  to  the  pest-house,"  replied  the  landlord, 
resting  his  elbows  on  the  counter  and  his  chin  in  his 
hands  and  staring  dismally  at  the  opposite  wAl.  "  Ah  I 
Lord  V  mercy  on  u.s !  these  be  dreadful  times  !  " 

**  Dr(5adful  enough !  "  said  Sir  Norman,  sighing  deeply, 


& 


THE  DWARF  AND  THE  RUIN. 


5a 


Lair, 

ther 

{sat, 

cu- 

rery 

Sir 

ind, 

line 

by 


as  he  thought  of  his  beautiful  Leoline,  a  victim  of  the 
merciless  pestilence.  **  Have  there  been  many  deaths  here 
of  the  distemper?  *' 

"  Twenty-five  to-day,"  groaned  the  man.  "  Oh,  Lord  I 
what  will  become  of  us  ?  " 

"You  seem  rather  disheartened,"  said  Sir  Norman 
pouring  out  a  glass  of  wine  and  handing  it  to  him. 
"  Just  drink  this,  and  don't  borrow  trouble.  They  say 
sack  is  a  sure  specific  agamst  the  plague." 

Mine  host  drained  the  bumper,  and  wiped  his  mouth, 
with  another  hollow  groan. 

**  If  I  thought  that,  sir,  I'd  not  be  sober  from  one  week's 
end  to  t'other ;  but  I  know  well  enough  I  will  be  in  a 
plague-pit  in  less  than  a  week.  Oh,  Lord,  have  mercy 
on  us  I"  ' 

«  Amen  1 "  said  Sir  Norman,  impatiently.  « If  fear  has 
not  taken  away  your  wits,  my  good  sir,  will  you  tell  me 
what  old  ruin  that  is  I  saw  a  little  above  here  as  I  rode 
up?" 

The  man  started  from  his  trance  of  terror,  had  glanced 
first  at  the  fiery  eyes  in  the  corner,  and  then  at  Sir  Nor- 
man, in  evident  trepidation  of  the  question. 

"That  ruin,  sir?  You  must  be  a  stranger  in  this 
place,  surely,  or  you  would  not  need  to  ask  that  ques- 
tion." 

"  Well,  suppose  I  am  a  stranger  ?  What  then  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir ;  only  I  thought  everybody  knew  every- 
thing about  that  ruin." 

«  But  I  do  not,  you  see  ?  So  fill  your  glass  again,  and 
while  you  are  drinking  it,  just  tell  me  what  that  every- 
thing comprises." 

Again  the  landlord  glanced  fearfully  at  the  fiery  eyes  in 
the  corner,  and  again  hesitated. 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  at  once  surprised  and 
impatient  at  his  taciturnity.  "  Can't  you  speak,  man?  I 
want  you  to  tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  There  is  nothing  to  tell,  sir,"  replied  the  host,  goaded 
to  desperation.  "  It's  an  old,  deserted  ruin  that's  been 
here  ever  since  I  remember ;  and  that's  all  I  know  about 
It." 

While  he  spoke,  the  crouching  shape  in  the  comer 


54 


THi:  MIBNIGHT  QUEfiN. 


'k  i 


m 


^.i 


I 


i      i 


reared  itself  upright,  and  keeping  his  fieiy  eyes  still  glar« 
ing  upon  Sir  Norman,  advanced  into  the  light.  Our 
young  knight  was  in  the  act  of  raising  his  glass  to  his 
lips ;  but  as  the  apparition  approached,  he  laid  it  down 
again,  untasted,  and  stared  at  it  in  wildest  surprise  and 
intensest  curiosity.  Truly,  it  was  a  singular-looking  crea- 
ture, not  to  say  a  rather  startling  one.  A  dwarf  of  some 
four  feet  high,  and  at  least  five  feet  broad  across  the 
shoulders,  with  immense  arms  and  head — a  giant  in  every 
thing  but  height.  His  immense  skull  was  set  on  such  a 
trifle  of  a  neck  as  to  oe  scarcely  worth  mentioning  and 
was  garnished  by  a  violent  mat  of  coarse,  black  hair, 
which  also  overrun  the  territory  of  his  cheeks  and  chin, 
leaving  no  neutral  ground  but  his  two  fiery  eyes  and  a 
broken  nose  all  twisted  awiy.  On  a  pair  of  short,  stout 
legs  he  wore  immense  jack-koots,  his  Herculean  shoulders 
and  chest  were  adorned  with  a  leathern  doublet,  and  in 
the  belt  round  his  waist  were  conspicuously  struck  a  pair 
of  pistols  and  a  dagger.  Altogether,  a  more  ugly  or 
sinister  gentleman  of  his  inches  it  would  have  been  hard 
to  find  in  all  broad  England.  Stopping  deliberately  be- 
fore Sir  Norman,  he  placed  a  hand  on  each  hip,  and  in  a 
deep,  guttural  voice,  addressed  him : 

*♦  So,  Sir  Knight — for  such  I  perceive  you  are — ^you  are 
anxious  to  know  something  of  that  old  ruin  yonder  ?  " 

**  Well,"  said  Sir  Norman,  so  far  recovering  from  his 
surprise  as  to  be  able  to  speak,  **  suppose  I  am  ?  Have 
you  anything  to  say  against  it,  my  little  friend  ?  " 

"  Oh,  not  in  the  least  I "  said  the  dwarf,  with  a  hoarse 
chuckle.  **  Only,  instead  of  wasting  your  breath  asking 
this  good  man,  who  professes  such  utter  ignorance,  you 
had  better  apply  to  me  for  information." 

Again  Sir  Norman  surveyed  the  little  Hercules  from 
head  to  foot,  for  a  moment,  in  silence  as  one,  now-a-days, 
would  an  intelligent  gorilla. 

**  You  think  so — do  you  ?  And  what  may  you  happen 
to  know  about  it,  my  pretty  little  friend  ?  " 

**  Oh,  Lord  I "  exclaimed  the  landlord,  to  himself,  with 
a  frightened  face,  while  the  dwarf,  «  grinned  horribly  a 
ghastly  smile  "  from  ear  to  ear. 
•♦  So  much,  my  good  sir,  that  I  would  strongly  advise  you 


THE  DWARF  AND  THE  RUIN. 


56 


)m 

1th 
a 


not  to  go  near  it,  unless  you  wish  to  catch  something  worse 
than  the  plague.  There  have  been  others — our  worthy 
host,  there,  whose  teeth,  yoa  perceive,  are  chattering  in 
his  head,  can  tell  you  about  those  that  have  tried  the 
trick,  and — " 

«  Well  ?  "  said  Norman,  curiously. 

"  And  have  never  returned  to  tell  what  they  found  I " 
concluded  the  little  monster,  with  a  diabolical  leer.  And 
as  tiie  landlord  fell,  gray  and  gasping,  back  into  his  seat, 
he  broke  cut  a  loud,  hyena-like  laugh. 

"  My  dear  little  friend,"  said  Sir  Norman,  staring  at 
him  in  displeased  wonder,  "  don't  laugh,  if  you  can  help 
it.  You  are  unprepossessing  enough,  ot  best,  l)Lit  when 
you  laugh,  you  look  like  the  very  "  (a  downward  gesture) 
**  himself ! " 

Unheeding  this  advice,  the  dv/arf  broke  again  into  an 
an  unearthly  cachinnation,  that  frightened  the  landlord 
nearly  into  fits,  and  seriously  discomposed  the  nervous 
system  even  of  Sir  Norman  himself.  Then,  grinning  like 
a  baboon  and  still  transfixing  our  puissant  young  knight 
with  the  same  tiger-like  and  unpleasant  glare,  he  nodded 
a  farewell ;  and  in  this  fashion,  grinning,  and  nodding  and 
backing,  he  got  to  the  door,  and  concluding  the  interest- 
ing performance  with  a  third  hoarse  and  hideous  laugh, 
disappeared  in  the  darkness. 

For  fully  ten  minutes  after  he  was  gone,  the  young 
man  kept  his  eyes  blankly  fixed  on  the  door,  with  a 
vague  impression  that  he  was  suffering  from  an  attack  of 
nightmare :  for  it  seemed  impossible  that  anything  so 
preposterously  ugly  as  that  dwarf  could  exist  out  of  c«ie. 
A  deep  groan  from  the  landlord,  however,  convinced  tiim 
that  it  was  no  disagreeable  midnight  vision,  but  a  br;uv- 
ny  reality ;  and  turning  to  that  individual,  he  found  him 
gasping,  in  the  last  degree  of  terror,  behind  the  counter. 

"Now,  who  in  the  name  of  all  the  demons  out  of 
Hades  may  that  ugly  abortion  be?"  iuvjuired  Sir 
Norman. 

*  Oh,  Lord !  be  merciful !  sir,  it's  Caliban ;  and  the  only 
wonder  is,  he  did  not  leave  you  a  bleeding  corpse  at  his 
feet ! " 

*' I  sUouM  Vil:5  1:}  ^QQ  him  trj^  it    rvrlKipi  he  would 


56 


THE  MroNIGHT  QUEEN. 


have  found  that  is  a  game  two  can  play  at!    Where 
does  he  come  from  and  who  is  he  ?  " 

The  landlord  leaned  over  the  counter,  and  placed  a 
very  pale  and  startled  face  close  to  Sir  Norman'}. 

♦*  That's  just  what  I  wanted  to  tell  you,  sir,  but  I  was 
afraid  to  speak  before  him.  I  think  he  lives  up  in  that 
same  old  ruin  you  were  inquiring  about — at  least  he  is 
often  seen  hanging  around  there ;  but  people  are  too  much  i 
afraid  of  him  to  ask  him  any  questions.  Ah,  sir,  it's  a  \ 
strange  place,  that  ruin,  and  there  be  strange  stories  afloat 
about  it,"  said  the  man,  with  a  portentous  shake  of  the 
head. 

"  What  are  they  ?  "  inquired  Sir  Norman.  "  I  should 
particularly  like  to  know." 

"  Well,  sir,  for  one  thing,  some  folks  say  it  is  haunted, 
on  account  of  the  queer  lights  and  noises  about  it,  some- 
times ;  but  again,  there  be  other  folks,  sir,  that  say  the 
ghostsi  are  alive,  and  that  he  " — nodding  toward  the  door 
— "  is  a  sort  of  ringleader  among  them." 

**  And  who  are  they  that  cut  up  such  cantrips  in  the 
old  place,  pray  ?  " 

"  Lord  only  knows,  sir.  I'm  sure  I  don't.  I  never  go 
near  it  myself ;  but  there  are  others  who  have,  and  some 
of  them  tell  of  the  most  beautiful  lady,  all  in  white,  with 
long,  black  hair,  who  walks  on  the  battlement  moon- 
light nights." 

"  A  beautiful  lady,  all  in  white,  with  long,  black  hair ! 
Why,  that  description  applies  to  Leoline  exactly." 

And  Sir  Norman  gave  a  violent  start,  and  arose  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  place  directly. 

"  Don't  you  go  near  it,  sir  I  "  said  the  host,  warningly. 
«  Others  have  gone,  as  he  told  you,  and  never  come  back ; 
for  these  be  dreadful  times,  and  men  do  as  they  please. 
Between  the  plague  and  their  wickedness,  the  Lord  only 
knows  what  will  become  of  us  I 

"  If  I  should  return  here  for  my  horse  in  an  hour  or 
two  I  suppose  I  can  get  Mm  ?  said  Sir  Norman,  as  he 
turned  toward  the  door. 

"  It's  likely  you  can,  sir,  if  I'm  not  dead  by  that  time," 
said  the  landlord  as  he  sunk  down  again,  groaning  dis- 
mally, with  his  chin  between  hi^  hands. 


THE  DWARF  AND  THE  RUIN. 


67 


I 


The  night  was  now  profoundly  dark ;  but  Sir  Norman 
knew  the  road  and  ruin  well,  and  drawing  his  sword,  walk- 
ed resolutely  on.  The  distance  between  it  and  the  ruin  was 
trifling,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  it  loomed  up  before 
him,  a  mass  of  deeper  black  in  the  blackness  No  white 
vision  floated  on  the  broken  battlements  this  night,  as  Sir 
Norman  looked  wistfully  up  at  them ;  but  neither  was 
there  any  ungainly  dwarf,  with  two-edged  sword,  guard- 
ing the  ruined  entrance ;  and  Sir  Norman  passed  unmo- 
lested in.  He  sought  the  spiral  staircase  which  La 
Masque  had  spoken  of,  and,  passing  carefully  from  one  an- 
cient chamber  to  another,  stumbling  over  piles  of  rubbish 
jind  stones  as  he  went,  he  reached  it  at  last.  Descending 
gingerly  its  tortuous  steepness  he  found  himself  in  the 
moldering  vaults,  and,  as  he  trod  them,  his  ear  was  greet- 
ed by  the  sound  of  faint  and  far-off  music.  Proceeding 
further,  he  heard  distinctly,  mingled  with  it,  a  murmur 
of  voices  and  laughter,  and,  through  the  chinks  in  the 
broken  flags,  he  perceived  a  few  faint  rays  of  light. 
Remembering  the  directions  of  La  Masque,  and  feeling 
intensely  curious,  he  cautiously  knelt  down,  and  examined 
the  loose  flagstones  until  he  found  one  he  could  raise  ; 
he  pushed  it  partly  aside,  and,  lying  flat  on  the  stones, 
with  his  face  to  the  aperture,  Sir  Norman  beheld  a  most 
wonderful  sight. 


naa 


I 


■i 


68 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN 


CHAFPER  VI. 


LA  MASQUE. 


LoYE  is  like  a  dizziness,"  says  the  old  song.  Love  is 
something  else — it  is  the  most  selfish  feeling  in  existence. 
Of  course,  I  don't  allude  to  the  fraternal  or  the  friendly, 
or  any  other  such  nonsensical,  old-fashioned  trash  that 
artless  people  still  believe  in,  but  to  the  real  genuine 
article  that  Adam  felt  for  Eve  when  he  first  saw  her,  and 
which  all  who  read  this — above  the  innocent  and  unsus- 
ceptible age  of  twelve — have  experienced.  And  the  fancy 
and  the  reality  are  so  much  alike,  that  they  amount  to 
about  the  same  thing.  The  former,  perhaps,  may  be  a 
Jittle  short-lived ;  but  it  is  just  as  disagreeable  a  sensation 
while  it  lasts  as  its  more  enduring  sister.  Love  is  said 
to  be  blind,  and  it  also  has  a  very  injurious  effect  on  the 
eyesight  of  its  victims — an  effect  that  neither  spectacles 
nor  oculists  can  aid  in  the  slightest  degree,  making  them 
see,  whether  sleeping  or  waking,  but  one  object,  and  that 
alone. 

I  don't  know  whether  these  were  Mr.  Malcolm  Orm- 
iston's  thoughts,  as  he  leaned  against  the  doorway,  and 
folded  his  arms  across  his  chest,  to  await  the  shining  of 
his  day-star.  In  fact,  I  am  pretty  sure  they  were  not : 
young  gentlemen,  as  a  general  thing,  not  being  any  more 
given  to  profound  moralizing  in  the  reign  of  His  Most 
Gracious  Majesty,  Charles  II.,  than  they  are  at  the  pres- 
ent day ;  but  I  do  know,  that  no  sooner  was  his  bosom- 
friend  and  crony.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  out  of  sight,  than 
he  forgot  him  as  teetotally  as  if  he  had  never  known  that 
distinguished  individual.  His  many  and  deep  afflictions, 
his  love,  his  anguish,  and  his  provocations,  his  beautiful, 
tftntalizing,  and  mysterious  ladjr-love  j  his  errand  m^  its 


LA  MASQUE. 


69 


re 
1st 


m 


probable  consequences ;  all  were  forgotten ;  and  Ormiston 
thought  of  nothmg  or  nobody  in  the  world  but  himself 
and  La  Masque.  La  Masque  I  La  Masque  I  that  was  the 
theme  on  which  his  thoughts  rang,  with  wild  vaiiations 
of  alternate  hope  and  fear,  like  every  other  lover  since  the 
world  began,  and  love  was  first  an  institution.  **  As  it 
was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,'*  truly, 
truly,  it  is  an  odd  and  wonderful  thing.  And  you  and  I 
may  thank  our  stars,  dear  readers,  that  we  are  a  great 
dead  too  sensible  to  wear  our  hearts  on  our  sleeves  for 
such  a  bloodthirsty  daw  to  peck  at.  Ormiston's  flame 
was  longer-lived  than  Sir  Norman's ;  he  had  been  in  love 
a  whole  month,  and  had  it  badly,  and  was  now  at  the 
very  crisis  of  a  malady.  Why  did  she  conceal  her  face — 
would  she  ever  disclose  it — would  she  listen  to  him — 
would  she  ever  love  him  ?  feverishly  asked  Passion ;  and 
Common  Sense  (or  what  little  of  that  useful  commodity 
he  had  left)  answered — probably  because  she  was  eccentric 
— posdbly  she  would  disclose  it  for  the  same  reason ;  that 
he  had  only  to  try  and  make  her  listen ;  and  as  to  her 
loving  him,  why.  Common  Sense  owned  he  had  her  there. 
I  can't  say  whether  the  adage  "  Faint  heart  never  won 
fair  lady ! "  was  extant  in  his  time ;  but  the  spirit  of  it 
certainly  was,  and  Ormiston  determined  to  prove  it.  He 
wanted  to  see  La  Masque,  and  try  his  fate  once  again ; 
and  see  her  he  would,  if  he  had  to  stay  there  as  a  sort  of 
ornamental  prop  to  the  house  for  a  week.  He  knew  he 
might  as  well  look  for  a  needle  in  a  haystack  as  his  whim- 
sical beloved  through  the  streets  of  London — dismal  and 
dark  now  as  the  streets  of  Luxor  and  Tadmor  in  Egypt ; 
and  he  wisely  resolved  to  spare  himself  and  his  Spanish 
leathern  boots  the  trial  of  a  one-handed  game  of  **  hide- 
and-go-seek."  Wisdom  like  Virtue,  is  its  own  reward ; 
and  scarcely  had  he  come  to  this  laudable  conclusion, 
when,  by  the  feeble  glimmer  of  the  house-lamps,  he  saw 
a  figure,  that  made  his  heart  bound,  flitting  through  the 
night  gloom  towards  him.  He  would  have  known  that 
figure  on  the  sands  of  Sahara,  in  an  Indian  jungle,  or  an 
American  forest — a  tall,  slight,  supple  figure,  bending 
and  springing  like  a  bow  of  steel,  queenly  and  regal  as 
that  of  a  young  empress.    It  was  draped  in  a  long  cloc^ 


to 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


r^  I 


Teaching  to  the  ground,  in  color  as  black  as  the  night, 
and  clasped  by  a  jewel  whose  glittering  flash  he  saw  even 
tiiere ;  a  velvet  hood  of  the  same  color  covered  the  stately 
head;  and  the  mask — the  tiresome,  inevitable  mask 
covered  the  beautiful — he  was  positive  it  was  beautiful — 
face.  He  had  seen  her  a  score  of  times  in  that  very  dress, 
flitting  like  a  dark,  graceful  ghost  through  the  city  streets, 
and  the  sight  sent  his  heart  plunging  against  his  side 
like  an  inward  sledge-hammer.  Would  one  pulse  in  her 
heart  stir  ever  so  faintly  at  sight  of  him  ?  Just  as  he 
asked  himself  the  question,  and  was  stepping  forward  to 
meet  her,  feeling  very  like  the  country  swain  in  love — 
•*  hot  and  dry  like,  with  a  pain  in  his  side  like  " — he  sud- 
denly stopped.  Another  figure  came  forth  from  the 
shadow  of  an  opposite  house,  and  softly  pronounced  her 
name.  It  was  a  short  figure — a  woman's  figure.  He 
eould  not  see  the  face,  and  that  was  an  immense  relief  to 
him,  and  prevented  his  having  jealousy  added  to  his 
other  pains  and  tribulations.  La  Masque  paused  as  well 
as  he,  and  her  soft  voice  softly  asked : 

»» Who  calls?" 

**Il  is  I,  madame — Prudence." 

"  Ah !  I  am  glad  to  meet  you.  I  have  been  searching 
the  city  through  for  you.    Where  have  you  been  ?  " 

"  Madame,  I  was  so  frightened  that  I  don't  know  where 
I  fled  to,  and  I  could  scarcely  make  up  my  mind  to  come 
back  at  all.  I  did  feel  dreadfully  sorry  for  her,  poor 
thing !  but  you  know  Madame  Masque,  I  could  do  noth- 
ing for  her,  and  I  should  have  come  back,  only  I  was 
afraid  of  you." 

"  You  did  wrong.  Prudence,"  said  La  Masque,  sternly, 
or  at  least  as  sternly  as  so  sweet  a  voice  could  speak ; 
«  you  did  very  wrong  to  leave  her  in  such  a  way.  You 
should  have  come  to  me  at  once,  and  told  me  all." 

"  But,  madame,  I  was  so  frightened  I " 

"Bah!  You  are  nothing  but  a  coward.  Come  into 
this  doorway  and  tell  me  all  about  it." 

Ormiston  drew  back  as  the  twain  approached,  and 
entered  the  portals  of  La  Masque's  own  doorway.  He 
could  see  them  both  by  the  aforesaid  faint  lamp-light, 
and  he  noticed   that  La  Masque's    companion  was  a 


LA  MASQUB. 


ei 


ing 


ou 


wrinkled  old  woman,  that  would  not  trouble  the  peaoe 
of  mmd  of  the  most  jealous  lover  in  Christendom.  Per- 
haps it  was  not  just  the  thing  to  hover  aloof  and  listen ; 
but  he  could  not  for  the  life  of  him  help  it ;  and  stand 
and  listen  he  accordingly  did.  Who  knew  but  this  noc- 
turnal conversation  might  throw  some  light  on  the  dark 
mystery  he  was  anxious  to  see  through,  and  could  his 
ears  have  run  into  needle-points  to  hear  the  better,  he 
would  have  had  the  operation  then  and  there  performed. 
There  was  a  moment's  silence  after  the  two  entered  the 
portal,  during  which  La  Masque  stood,  tall,  dark,  and 
commanding,  motionless  as  a  marble  column ;  and  the 
little  withered  old  specimen  of  humanity  beside  her  stood 
gazing  up  at  her  with  something  between  fear  and  fasci- 
nation. 

**  Do  you  know  what  has  become  of  your  charge.  Pru- 
dence? '*  asked  the  low,  vibrating  voice  of  La  Masque^  at 
last. 

"  How  could  I,  madame.  You  know  I  fled  from  the 
house,  and  I  dare  not  go  back.     Perhaps  she  is  there  still." 

"Perhaps  she  is  not!  Do  you  suppose  that  sharp 
shriek  of  yours  was  unheard !  No ;  she  was  found ;  and 
what  do  you  suppose  has  become  of  her  ?  " 

The  old  woman  looked  up,  and  seemed  to  read  in  the 
dark,  stern  figure,  and  deep,  solemn  voice,  the  fatal  truth. 
She  wrung  her  hands  with  a  sort  of  cry. 

«  Oh !  I  know,  I  know ;  they  have  put  her  in  the  dead- 
cart,  and  buried  her  in  the  plague-pit.  Oh,  my  dear, 
sweet  young  mistress." 

« If  you  had  stayed  by  your  dear,  sweet  young  mistress, 
instead  of  running  screaming  away  as  you  di<{  it  might 
not  have  happened,"  said  La  Masque,  in  a  tone  between 
derision  and  contempt. 

"  Madame,"  sobbed  the  old  woman,  who  was  crying ; 
"she  was  dying  of  the  plague,  and  how  could  I  help  it? 
They  would  have  buried  her  in  spite  of  me." 

"She  was  not  dead-;  there  was  your  mistake.  She 
was  as  much  alive  as  you  or  I  at  this  moment." 

"  Madame,  I  left  her  dead ! "  said  the  old  woman, 
positively. 

"  Prudence,  you  did  no  such  thing ;  you  left  her  faintr 


62 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


ing,  and  in  that  state  she  was  found  and  carried  to  the 
plague-pit." 

The  old  woman  stood  silent  for  a  moment,  with  a  face 
of  intense  horror,  and  then  she  clasped  both  hands  with 
a  wild  cry. 

*♦  Ob ,  my  God  I  and  they  buried  her  alive — buried  her 
alive — ^buried  her  alive  in  that  dreadful  plague-pit  ?  *' 

La  Masque,  leaning  against  a  pillar,  stood  unmoved; 
her  voice,  when  she  spoke,  was  as  coldly  sweet  as  modern 
ice-cream. 

**  Not  exactly.  She  was  not  buried  at  all,  as  I  happen 
to  know.  But  when  did  you  discover  that  she  had  the 
plague,  and  how  could  she  possibly  have  caught  it  ?  " 

**That  I  do  not  know,  madame.  She  seemed  well 
enough  all  day,  though  not  in  such  high  spirits  as  a  bride 
should  be.  Towards  evening  she  complained  of  a  head- 
ache and  a  feeling  of  faintness ;  but  I  thought  nothing  of 
it,  and  helped  her  to  dress  for  the  bridal.  Before  it  was 
over,  the  headache  and  faintness  grew  worse,  and  I  gave 
her  wine,  and  still  suspected  nothing.  The  last  time  I 
came  in,  she  had  grown  so  much  worse,  that  notwith- 
standing her  wedding  dress,  she  had  lain  down  on  her 
bed,  looking  for  all  the  world  like  a  ghost,  and  told  me 
she  had  the  most  dreadful  burning  pain  in  her  chest. 
Then,  madame,  the  horrid  truth  struck  me — I  tore  down 
had  dress,  and  there,  sure  enough,  was  the  awful  mark  of 
the  distemper.  *  You  have  the  plague  !  *  I  shrieked ;  and 
then  I  fled  down-stairs  and  out  of  the  house,  like  one 
crazy.  Oh,  madame,  madame  I  I  shall  never  forget  it — 
It  was  terrible !  I  shall  never  forget  it  1  Poor,  poor 
child ;  and  the  count  does  not  know  a  word  of  it !  " 

La  Masque  laughed — a  sweet,  clear,  deriding  laugh. 

"So  the  count  does  not  know  it,  Prudence?  Poor 
man  I  he  will  be  in  despair  when  he  finds  it  out,  won't 
he?  Such  an  ardent  and  devoted  lover  as  he  was,  you 
know  I" 

Prudence  looked  up,  a  little  puzzled. 

**  Yes,  madame,  I  think  so.  He  seemed  very  fond  of 
her ;  a  great  deal  fonder  than  she  ever  was  of  him.  The 
fact  is,  madame,"  said  Prudence,  lowering  her  voice  to  a 
confldeatiiil  stage  whisper,  "  ghe  never  seemed  fond  of  him 


LA  MASQUE. 


)or 


)01' 

I't 
rou 


of 
:he 
a 
Lm 


at  all,  and  wouldn^t  have  been  married,  I  think,  if  she 
could  have  helped  it." 

"Could  have  helped  it?  What  do  you  mean,  Pru- 
dence ?    Nobody  made  her,  did  they  ?  " 

Prudence  fidgeted,  and  looked  rather  uneasy. 

"  Why,  madame,  she  was  not  exactly  forced,  perhaps ; 
but  you  know — you  know  you  told  me " 

"  Well  ?  "  said  La  Masque  coldly. 

"  To  do  what  I  could,"  cried  Prudence,  in  a  sort  of  des- 
peration ;  **  and  I  did  it,  madame,  and  harassed  her  about 
it  night  and  day.  And  then  the  count  was  there,  too, 
coaxing  and  entreating ;  and  he  was  handsome  and  had 
such  ways  with  him  that  no  woman  could  resist.,  much 
less  one  so  little  used  to  gentlemen  as  Leoline.  And  so, 
Madame  Masque,  we  kept  at  her  till  we  got  her  to  consent 
to  it  at  last ;  but  in  her  secret  heart,  I  know  she  did  not 
want  to  be  married — at  least  to  the  count,"  said  Prudence^ 
on  serious  after- thought. 

»*  Well,  well,  that's  nothing  to  do  with  it.  The  question 
is,  where  is  she  to  be  found  ?  " 

"  Found  1 "  echoed  Prudence ;  **  has  she,  then,  been 
lost?" 

"  Of  course  she  has,  you  old  simpleton  I  How  could 
she  help  it,  and  she  dead,  with  no  one  to  look  after  her  ?  ** 
said  La  Masque,  with  something  like  a  half  laugh.  "  She 
was  carried  off  to  the  plague-pit  in  her  bridal  robes,  jewels, 
and  lace ;  and  when  about  to  be  thrown  in,  was  discovered, 
like  Moses  in  the  bulrushes,  to  be  all  alive." 

"  Well,"  whispered  Prudence,  breathlessly. 

"Well,  oh,  most  courageous  of  guardians!  she  was 
carried  to  a  certain  house,  and  left  to  her  own  devices, 
while  her  gallant  rescuer  went  for  a  doctor ;  and  when 
tliey  returned  she  was  found  missing.  Our  pretty 
Leoline  seems  to  have  a  strong  fancy  for  getting 
lost ! " 

There  was  a  pause,  during  which  Prudence  looked  at 
her  with  a  face  full  of  mingled  fear  and  curiosity.  At 
last: 

"Madame,  how  did  you  know  all  this?  Were  you 
there  ?  " 

**  No  I  Not  I,  mdeed  I    What  would  take  me  there  ?  *• 


64 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


i 


**Then  how  do  you  happen  to  know  everything  about 
it?" 

La  Masque  laughed. 

**  A  little  bird  told  me,  Prudence  I  Have  you  returned 
to  resume  your  old  duties  ?  " 

**  Madame,  I  dare  not  go  into  that  house  again.    I  am 
^  afraid  of  taking  the  plague." 

"  Prudence,  you  are  a  perfect  idiot  I  Are  you  not 
liable  to  take  the  plague  in  the  remotest  quarter  of  this 
plague-infested  city  ?  And  even  if  you  do  take  it,  what 
odds  ?  You  have  only  a  few  years  to  live,  at  the  most, 
and  what  matter  whether  you  die  now  or  at  the  end  of  a 
year  or  two  ?  " 

**  What  matter  ?  "  repeated  Prudence,  in  a  high  key  of 
hidignant  amazement.  **  It  may  make  no  matter  to  you, 
Madame  Masque,  but  it  makes  a  great  deal  to  me,  I  can 
tell  you ;  and  into  that  infected  house  1*11  not  put  one 
foot." 

**  Just  as  you  please,  only  in  that  case  there  is  no  use 
for  further  talk,  so  allow  me  to  bid  you  good-night  1 " 

**  But,  madame,  what  of  Leoline  ?  Do  stop  one  moment 
and  tell  me  of  her." 

.  "  What  have  I  to  tell  ?  I  have  told  you  all  I  know.  If 
you  want  to  find  her,  you  must  search  in  the  city  or  in 
the  pest-house  I " 

Prudence  shuddered,  and  covered  her  face  with  a  groan. 

"Oh,  my  poor  darling!  so  good  and  so  beautiful. 
Heaven  might  surely  have  spared  her !  Are  you  going 
to  do  nothing  further  about  it  ?  " 

"  What  can  I  do  ?    I  have  searched  for  her  and  have 
^  not  found  her,  and  what  else  remains  ?  " 

"Madame,  you  know  everything — surely,  surely  you 
know  where  my  poor  little  nursling  is,  among  the 
rest." 

Again  La  Masque  laughed — another  of  her  low,  sweet 
derisive  laughs. 

"  No  such  thing,  Prudence.  If  I  did  I  should  have  her 
here  in  a  twinkling,  depend  upon  it.  However,  it  all 
comes  to  the  same  thing  in  the  end.  She  is  probably 
dead  by  this  time,  and  would  have  to  be  buried  in  the 
plague  pit  anyhow.    If  you  have  nothing  further  to  say, 


LA  MASQUE. 


65 


Prudence,  you  had  better  bid  me  good-night  and  let  me 

go." 

»♦  Good-night,  madame ! "  said  Prudence,  with  a  sort 
of  groan,  as  she  wrapped  her  cloak  closely  around  her, 
and  turned  to  go. 

I^a  Masque  stood  for  a  moment  looking  after  her,  and 
then  placed  a  key  in  the  lock  of  the  door.  But  there  is 
many  a  slip — she  was  not  fated  to  enter  as  soon  as  she 
thought ;  for  just  at  that  moment  a  new  step  sounded 
behind  her,  a  new  voice  pronounced  her  name,  and,  look- 
ing around,  she  beheld  Ormiston.  With  what  feelings 
that  young  person  had  listened  to  the  neat  and  appro- 
priate dialogue  I  have  just  had  the  pleasure  of  immortal- 
izing, may  1^ — to  use  a  phrase  you  may  have  heard  before, 
once  or  twice — better  imagined  than  described.  He  knew 
very  well  who  Leoline  was,  and  how  she  had  been  saved 
from  the  plague-pit ;  but  where  in  the  world  had  La 
Masque  found  it  out.  Lost  in  a  maze  of  wonder,  and  in- 
clined to  doubt  the  evidence  of  his  own  tympanums,  he 
had  stood  perfectly  still  until  his  lady-love  had  so  coolly 
dismissed  her  company,  and  then  rousing  himself  just 
in  time,  he  bad  come  forward  and  accosted  her.  La 
Masque  turned  round,  regarded  him  in  silence  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  when  she  spoke,  her  voice  had  an  accent  of 
mingled  surprise  and  displeasure. 

"  You,  Mr.  Ormiston  ;  how  many  more  times  am  I  to 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  again  to-night  ?  " 

"  Pardon,  madame ;  it  is  the  last  time.  But  you  must 
hear  me  now." 

"  Must  I  ?  Very  well,  then  ;  if  I  must,  you  had  better 
begin  at  once,  for  the  night-air  is  said  to  be  unhealthy, 
and  as  good  people  are  scarce,  I  want  to  take  care  of  my- 
self." 

"  In  that  case,  perhaps  you  had  better  let  me  enter,  too. 
I  hate  to  talk  on  the  street,  for  every  wall  has  ears." 

"  I  am  aware  of  that.  When  I  was  talking  to  my  old 
friend.  Prudence,  two  minutes  ago,  I  saw  a  tall  shape  that 
I  have  reason  to  know,  since  it  haunts  me,  like  my  own 
shadow,  standing  there  and  paying  deep  attention.  I 
hope  you  found  our  conversation  improving,  Mr.  Ormla- 
tonl" 


"^-r 


t 


I 


ee 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"Madame  ! "  began  Ormiston,  turning  crimson. 

"Oh,  don't  blush;  there  is  quite  light  enough  from 
yonder  lamp  to  show  that.  Besides,"  added  the  lady, 
easily,  "  I  don't  know  as  I  had  any  objection ;  you  are 
interested  in  Leoline,  and  must  feel  curious  to  know  some- 
thing about  her." 

"  Madame,  what  must  you  think  of  me  ?  I  have  acted 
so  unpardonably." 

"  Oh,  I  know  all  that.  There  is  no  need  to  apologize, 
and  I  don't  think  any  the  worse  of  you  for  it.  Will  you 
come  to  business,  Mr.  Ormiston  ?  I  think  I  told  you  I 
wanted  to  go  in.  What  may  you  want  of  me  at  this  dis- 
mal hour  ?  " 

"Oh,  madame,  need  you  ask?  Does  not  your  own 
heart  tell  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  it  does !  And  to  tell  you  the 
truth,  Mr.  Ormiston,  I  don't  know  that  I  even  have  a 
heart  1  I  am  afraid  I  must  trouble  you  to  put  it  in  words." 

"  Then,  madame,  I  love  you ! " 

"  Is  thi\t  all  ?  If  my  memory  serves  me,  you  have  tolrl 
me  that  little  fact  several  times  before.  Is  there  anything 
else  tormenting  you,  or  may  I  go  in  ?  '* 

Ormiston  groaned  out  an  oath  between  his  teeth,  and 
La  Masque  T-aised  one  jeweled,  snowy,  taper  finger,  re- 
provingly. 

"  Don't,  Mr.  Ormiston — ^it's  naughty,  you  know  1  May 
Igom?" 

"  Madame,  you  are  enough  to  drive  a  man  mad.  Is  the 
love  I  bear  you  worthy  of  nothing  but  mockery  ?  " 

*i  NOj  Mr.  Ormiston,  it  is  not ;  that  is,  supposing  you 
really  love  me,  which  you  don't.'- 

"  Madame  I " 

"  Oh,  you  needn't  flush  and  look  indignant ;  it  is  quite 
true  I  Don't  be  absurd,  Mr.  Ormiston.  How  is  it  pos- 
sible for  you  to  love  one  you  have  never  seen  ?  " 

"  I  have  seen  you.  Do  you  think  I  am  blind  ?  "  he  de- 
manded indignantly. 

"  My  face,  I  mean.  I  don't  consider  that  you  can  see  a 
person  without  looking  in  their  face.  Now  you  have 
never  looked  in  mine,  and  how  do  you  know  I  have  any 
lJftceatall?'V   . 


LA  MASQUE. 


67 


**  Madame,  you  mock  me." 

<<  Not  at  all.  How  are  you  to  know  what  is  behind  thia 
mask?" 

^  I  feel  it,  and  that  is  better ;  and  I  love  you  all  the 
same." 

**  Mr.  Ormiston,  how  do  you  know  but  I  am  ugly  ?  " 

"Madame,  I  do  not  believe  you  are;  you  are  all  too 
perfect  not  to  have  a  perfect  face ;  and  even  were  it  other- 
wise, I  still  love  you ! " 

She  broke  into  a  laugh — one  of  her  low,  short,  derid- 
ing laughs. 

**  You  do  1  Oh,  man,  how  wise  thou  art  1  I  tell  you,  if 
I  took  oif  this  mask,  the  sight  would  curdle  the  very 
blood  in  your  veins  with  horror — would  freeze  the  life- 
blood  in  your  heart.  I  tell  you  I "  she  passionately  cried, 
**  There  are  sights  too  horrible  for  human  beings  to  look 
on  and  live,  and  this — this  is  one  of  them  1 " 

He  started  back,  and  stared  at  her  aghast. 

**  You  think  me  mad,"  she  said,  in  a  less  fierce  tone, 
"  but  I  am  not ;  and  I  repeat  it,  Mr.  Ormiston,  the  sight 
of  what  this  mask  conceals  would  blast  you.  Go  now, 
for  Heaven's  sake,  and  leave  me  in  peace,  to  drag  out  the 
rest  of  my  miserable  life ;  and  if  ever  you  think  of  me,  let 
it  be  to  pray  that  it  may  speedily  end.  You  have  forced 
me  to  say  this ;  so  now  be  content.  Be  merciful,  and 
gol" 

She  made  a  desperate  gesture,  and  turned  to  leave  him, 
but  he  caught  her  hand  and  held  her  fast. 

"  Never ! "  he  cried,  fiercely.  "  Say  what  you  will ! 
let  that  mask  hide  what  it  may  1 1  will  never  leave  you 
till  life  leaves  me  I " 

**  Man,  you  are  mad !    Release  my  hand  and  let  me  go  t " 

"  Madame,  hear  me :  There  is  but  one  way  to  prove  my 
love,  and  my  sanity,  and  that  is " 

"  Well  ? "  she  said,  almost  touched  by  his  earnestness. 

**  Raise  your  mask  and  try  me  I  Show  me  your  face  and 
see  if  I  do  not  love  you  still  I  " 

**  Truly,  I  know  how  much  love  you  will  have  for  me 
when  it  is  revealed.  Do  you  know  that  no  one  has  looked 
in  my  face  for  the  last  eight  years." 

He  stood  and  ^^'^ed  at  Uer  in  wonder. 


< 


68 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN, 


**  It  is  80,  Mr.  Ormiston ;  and  in  my  heart  I  have  vowed 
a  vow  to  plunge  headlong  into  the  most  loathsome  plague- 
pit  in  London,  rather  than  ever  raise  it  again.  My  friend, 
be  satisfied.    Go  and  leave  me ;  go  and  forget  me." 

"  I  can  do  neither  until  I  have  ceased  to  forget  every- 
thing earthly.    Madame,  I  implore  you,  hear  me  1 " 

"  Mr.  Ormiston,  I  tell  you,  you  but  court  your  own 
doom.    No  one  can  look  on  me  and  live ! " 

"I  will  risk  it,"  he  said,  with  an  incredulous  smile. 
"  Only  promise  to  show  me  your  face." 

"  Be  it  so,  then !  "  she  cried,  almost  fiercely.  "  I  prom- 
ise, and  be  the  consequences  on  your  own  head." 

His  whole  face  flushed  with  joy. 

**  I  accept  them.  And  when  is  that  happy  time  to 
come  ?  " 

**  Who  knows  ?  What  must  be  done,  had  best  be  done 
quickly ;  but  I  tell  thee  it  were  safer  to  play  with  the 
lightning's  chain  than  tamper  with  what  thou  art  about 
to  do." 

"  I  take  the  risk  I    Will  you  raise  your  mask  now  ?  " 

**  No,  no — I  cannot !  But  yet,  I  may  before  the  sun 
rises.  My  face  " — with  bitter  scorn — "  shows  better  by 
darkness  than  by  daylight.  Will  you  be  out  to  see  the 
grand  illumination  ?  " 

**  Most  certainly." 

"  Then  meet  me  here  an  hour  after  midnight,  and  the 
face  so  long  hidden  shall  be  revealed.  But,  once  again, 
on  the  threshold  of  doom,  I  entreat  you  to  pause." 

"  There  is  no  such  word  for  me !  "  he  fiercely  and  ex- 
ultingly  cried.  "  I  have  your  promise,  and  I  shall  hold 
you  to  it  I  And,  madame,  if,  at  last,  you  discover  my 
love  is  changeless  as  fate  itself,  then — then  may  I  not 
dare  to  hope  for  a  return  ?  " 

**  Yes ;  then  you  may  hope,"  she  said,  with  cold  mockery. 
"  If  your  love  survives  that  sight,  it  will  be  mighty,  in- 
deed, and  well  worthy  a  return." 

"  And  you  will  return  it  ?  " 

"I  will." 

"You  will  be  my  wife?" 

"With  all  my  heart!" 

«*My  darling!"  he  cried,  rapturously — "For  you  are 


■^^# 


LA  MASQUE. 


60 


mme  already— how  can  I  ever  thank  you  for  this  ?  If  a 
whole  lifetime  devoted  and  consecrated  to  your  happiness 
can  repay  you,  it  shall  be  yours." 

During  this  rhapsody,  her  hand  had  been  on  the  handle 
of  the  door.    Now  she  turned  it. 

«  Good  night,  Mr.  Ormiston,"  and  vanished. 


I 


I 


70 


TH£  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


i*  ii 


i  I 


CHAPTER  Vn. 


THE  EARL'S  BABGE. 


Shocks  of  joy,  they  tell  me,  seldom  kill.  Of  my  own 
knowledge  I  cannot  say,  for  I  have  had  precious  little  ex- 
perience of  such  shocks  in  my  lifetime,  Heaven  knows ; 
but  in  the  present  instance,  I  can  safely  aver,  they  had 
no  such  dismal  effect  on  Ormiston.  Nothing  earthly 
could  have  given  that  young  gentleman  a  greater  shock 
of  joy  than  the  knowledge  he  was  to  behold  the  long- 
hidden  face  of  his  idol.  That  that  face  was  ugly,  he  did 
not  for  an  instant  believe,  or,  at  least,  it  never  would  be 
ugly  to  him.  With  a  form  so  perfect — a  form  a  sylph 
might  have  envied — a  voice  sweeter  than  the  Singing 
Fountain  of  Arabia,  hands  and  feet  the  most  perfectly 
beautiful  the  sun  ever  shone  on,  it  was  simply  a  moral 
and  physical  impossibility,  then,  they  could  be  joined  to 
a  repulsive  face.  There  was  a  remote  possibility  that  it 
was  a  little  less  exquisite  than  those  ravishing  items,  and 
that  her  morbid  fancy  made  her  imagine  it  homely,  com- 
pared with  them,  but  he  knew  he  never  would  share  in 
that  opinion.  It  was  the  reasoning  of  love — or,  rather, 
the  logic,  for  when  love  glides  smiling  and  dipping  in  at 
the  door,  reason  stalks  gravely,  not  to  say  sulkily,  out  of 
the  window,  and,  standing  afar  off,  eyes  disdainfully  the 
didoes  and  antics  of  her  late  tenement.  There  was  very 
little  reason,  therefore,  in  Ormiston's  head  and  heart,  but 
a  great  deal  of  something  sweeter,  joy — joy  that  thrilled 
and  vibrated  through  every  nerve  within  him.  Leaning 
against  the  portal,  in  an  absurd  delirium  of  delight — for 
it  takes  but  a  trifle  to  jerk  those  lovers  from  the  slimiest 
depths  of  the  Slough  of  Despond  to  the  topmost  peak  of 
the  mountain  of  ecstasy — he  uncovered  his  head,  that  the 


THE  EARL'S  BARGE. 


71 


I  m 


night-air  might  cool  its  feverish  thi-obbings.  But  the 
night-air  was  as  hot  as  his  lieart ;  and,  almost  suffocated 
by  the  sultry  closeness,  he  was  about  to  start  for  a  plunge 
in  the  river,  when  the  sound  of  coming  footsteps  and 
voices  arrested  him.  He  had  met  with  so  many  odd  ad- 
ventures to-night  that  he  stopped  now  to  see  who  was 
coming,  for  on  every  hand  all  was  silent  and  forsaken. 
Footsteps  and  voices  came  closer ;  two  figures  took  shape 
in  the  gloom,  and  emerged  from  the  darkness  into  the 
glimmering  lamp-light.  He  recognized  them  both.  One 
was  the  Earl  of  Rochester;  the  other,  his  dark-eyed, 
handsome  page — that  strange  page  with  the  face  of  the 
lost  lady  1  Tiie  earl  was  chatting  familiarly,  and  laugh- 
ing obstreperously  at  something  or  other,  while  the  boy 
merely  wore  a  languid  smile,  as  if  anything  further  in 
that  line  were  quite  beneath  his  dignity. 

"  Silence  and  solitude,"  said  the  earl,  with  a  careless 
glance  around.  "I  protest,  Hubert,  this  night  seems 
endless.    How  long  is  it  until  midnight  ?  " 

"An  hour  and  a  half  at  the  least,  I  should  fancy,** 
answered  the  boy,  with  a  strong  foreign  accent.  "  I  know 
it  struck  ten  as  we  passed  St.  Paul's." 

**  This  grand  bonfire  of  our  most  worshipful  lord  mayor 
will  be  a  sight  worth  seeing,"  remarked  the  earl.  **  When 
all  these  pUes  are  lighted,  the  city  will  be  one  sea  of  fire." 

"  A  slight  foretaste  of  what  most  of  its  inhabitants  will 
behold  in  another  world,"  said  the  page,  with  a  French 
shrug.  « I  have  heard  Lilly's  prediction  that  London  is 
to  be  purified  by  fire,  like  a  second  Sodom ;  perhaps  it  is 
to  be  verified  to  night." 

"  Not  unlikely ;  the  dome  of  St.  Paul's  would  be  an  ex- 
cellent place  to  view  the  conflagration." 

**  The  river  will  do  almost  as  well,  my  lord.*' 

"  We  will  have  a  chance  of  knowing  that  presently," 
said  the  earl,  as  he  and  his  page  descended  to  the  river, 
where  the  little  gilded  barge  lay  moored  and  the  boat- 
man waiting. 

As  they  passed  from  sight,  Ormiston  came  forth,  and 
watched  thoughtfully  after  them.  The  face  and  figure 
were  that  of  the  lady,  but  the  voice  was  different;  both 
were  clear  and  musical  enough,  but  she  s|)i)lvc  English 


i 


I  ! 
■  i' 
i! 


: 


79 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


with  the  purest  accent,  while  his  was  the  voice  of  a 
foreigner.  It  must  have  been  one  of  those  strange, 
unaccountable  likenesses  we  sometimes  see  among  per- 
fect strangers,  but  the  resemblance  in  this  case  was  some- 
thing wonderful.  It  brought  his  thoughts  back  from 
himself  and  his  own  fortunate  love,  to  his  violently-smit- 
ten friend,  Sir  Norman,  and  his  plague-stricken  beloved ; 
and  he  began  speculating  what  he  could  possibly  be  about 
just  then,  or  what  he  had  discovered  in  the  old  ruin.  Sud- 
denly he  was  aroused ;  a  moment  before,  the  silence  had 
been  almost  oppressive,  but  now,  on  the  wings  of  the 
night,  there  came  borne  a  shout.  A  tumult  of  voices  and 
footsteps  were  approaching.  «  Stop  her !  stop  her ! "  was 
cried  by  many  voices ;  and  the  next  instant  a  fleet  figure 
went  flying  past  him  with  a  rush,  and  plunged  head- 
foremost into  the  river.  A  slight  female  figure,  with 
flowing  robes  of  white,  waving  hair  of  deepest  blackness, 
and  with  a  sparkle  of  jewels  on  ntck  and  arms.  Only 
for  one  instant  did  he  see  it ;  but  he  knew  it  well,  and 
his  very  heart  stood  still.  "  Stop  her !  stop  her  I  she  is 
ill  of  the  plague  !  "  shouted  the  crowd,  pressing,  panting 
on ;  but  they  came  too  late ;  the  white  vision  had  went 
down  into  the  black,  sluggish  river,  and  disappeared. 

"Who  is  it?  What  is  it?  Where  is  it?"  cried  two 
or  three  watchmen,  brandishing  their  halberts,  and  rush- 
ing up ;  and  the  crowd — a  small  mob  of  a  dozen  or  so — 
answered  all  ^t  once :  "  She  is  delirious  with  the  plague ; 
she  was  running  through  the  streets ;  we  gave  chase,  but 
she  outstepped  us,  and  is  now  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Thames  I " 

Ormiston  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but  rushed  pre- 
cipitately down  to  the  water's  edge.  The  alarm  had  now 
reached  the  boats  on  the  river,  and  many  eyes  witliin 
them  were  turned  in  the  direction  whence  she  had  gone 
down.  Soon  she  reappeared  on  the  dark  surface — some- 
thing whiter  than  snow,  whiter  than  death,  shining  like 
silver,  shone  the  glittering  dress  and  marble  face  of  the 
bride.  A  small  batteau  lay  close  to  where  Ormiston 
stood ;  in  two  seconds  he  had  shoved  it  off,  sprung  in, 
and  was  rowing  vigorously  toward  that  snow- wreath  in 
the  inky  river.    But  he  was  forestalled  j  two  hands^  whitQ 


THE  EARL'S  BARGE. 


7t 


and  jeweled  as  her  own,  reached  over  the  edge  of  a  gilded 
barge,  and  with  the  help  of  the  boatman,  lifted  her  in. 
Before  she  could  be  properly  established  on  the  cushioned 
seats,  the  batteau  was  alongside,  and  Ormiston  turned  a 
very  white  and  excited  lace  toward  the  Earl  of  Rochester. 

"  I  know  that  lady,  my  lord !  She  is  a  friend  of  mine, 
and  you  must  give  her  to  me !  " 

"  Is  it  you,  Ormiston  ?  Why,  what  brings  you  here 
alone  on  the  river  at  this  hour  ?  " 

"  I  have  come  for  her,"  said  Ormiston,  pressing  over  to 
lift  the  lady :  "  may  I  beg  you  to  assist  me,  my  lord,  in 
transferring  her  to  my  boat  ?  " 

"  You  must  wait  till  I  see  her  first,"  said  Rochester, 
partly  raising  her  head,  and  holding  a  lamp  close  to  her 
face ;  **  as  I  have  picked  her  out,  I  think  I  deserve  it. 
Heavens  I  what  an  extraordinary  likeness  ! " 

The  earl  had  glanced  at  the  lady,  then  at  his  page, 
again  at  the  lady,  and  lastly  at  Ormiston,  his  handsome 
countenance  full  of  the  most  unmitigated  wonder. 

"  To  whom  ?  "  asked  Ormiston,  who  had  very  little  need 
to  inquire. 

"  To  Hubert,  yonder.  Why,  don't  you  see  it  yourself  ? 
She  might  be  his  twin  sister !  " 

"  She  might  be,  but,  as  she  is  not,  you  will  have  the 
goodness  to  let  me  take  charge  of  her.  She  has  escaped 
from  her  friends,  and  I  must  bring  her  back  to  them." 
He  half-lifted  her  as  he  spoke ;  and  the  boatman,  glad 
enough  to  get  rid  of  one  sick  of  the  plague,  helped  her 
into  the  batteau.  The  lady  was  not  insensible,  as  might 
be  supposed,  after  her  cold  bath,  but  extremely  wide- 
awake, and  gazing  around  her  with  her  great,  black,  shin- 
ing eyes.  But  she  made  no  resistance ;  either  she  v.  as 
too  faint  or  frightened  for  that,  and  suffered  herself  to 
be  hoisted  about,  "passive  to  all  changes."  Ormiston 
spread  his  cloak  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  laid  her 
tenderly  upon  it,  and  though  the  beautiful,  wistful  eyes 
were  solemnly  and  unwinkingly  fixed  on  his  face,  the 
pale,  sweet  lips  parted  not — uttered  never  a  word.  The 
wet  bridal  robes  were  drenched  and  dripping  about  her, 
the  long  dark  hair  hung  in  saturated  masses  over  her 
neck  iuil  ariiis^  uii-l  tMJit-astvJ  vivivL^  \»"aJi  d  fiicCjOrmis- 


74 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


ton  thought,  at  once  the  whitest,  most  beautiful,  and 
most  stone-like  he  had  ever  seen. 

"  Thank  you,  my  man,  thank  you,  my  lord,"  said  Ormis- 
ton,  preparing  to  push  ofif. 

Rochester,  who  had  been  leaning  from  the  barge,  gaz- 
ing in  mingled  curiosity,  wonder  and  admiration  at  the 
lovely  face,  turned  now  to  his  champion. 

"  Who  is  she,  Ormiston  ?  "  he  said,  persuasively. 

But  Ormiston  only  laughed,  and  rowed  energetically 
for  the  shore.  The  crowd  was  still  lingering ;  and  half 
a  dozen  hands  were  extended  to  draw  the  boat  up  to  the 
landing.  He  lifted  the  light  form  in  his  arras  and  bore 
it  from  the  boat ;  but  before  he  could  proceed  further 
with  his  armful  of  beauty,  a  faint  but  imperious  voice 
spoke.  **  Please  put  me  down.  I  am  not  a  baby,  and 
can  walk  myself." 

Ormiston  was  so  surprised,  or  rather  dismayed,  by  this 
unexpected  address,  that  he  complied  at  once,  and  placed 
her  on  her  own  pretty  feet.  But  the  young  lady's  sense 
of  propriety  was  a  great  deal  stronger  than  her  physical 
powers ;  and  she  swayed  and  tottered,  and  had  to  cling 
to  her  unknown  friend  for  support. 

"You  are  scarcely  strong  enough,  I  am  afraid,  dear 
lady,"  he  said,  kindly.  "  You  had  better  let  me  carry  you. 
I  assure  you  I  am  quite  equal  to  it,  or  even  a  more  mighty 
burden,  if  necessity  required." 

*♦  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  the  faint  voice,  faintly,  "  but  I 
would  rather  walk.    Where  are  you  taking  me  to  ?  " 

"  To  your  own  house,  if  you  wish — it  is  quite  close  at 
hand." 

"  Yes.  Yes.  Let  us  go  there !  Prudence  is  there,  and 
she  will  take  care  of  me." 

"  Will  she  ?  "  said  Ormiston,  doubtfully.  "  I  hope  you 
do  not  suffer  much  pain  ?  " 

"I  do  net  suffer  at  all,"  she  said,  wearily  ;  **only  I  am 
BO  tired.    Oh,  I  wish  I  was  home  !  " 
■    Ormiston  half  led,  half  lifted  her  \ip  the  stairs. 

"  You  are  almost  there,  dear  lady — see,  it  is  close  at 
hand  I " 

She  half  lifted  her  languid  eyes,  but  did  not  speak. 
I^nhig  panting  on  his  arm,  he  drew  her  gently  on  uutU 


THE  EAftL^S  BARGfi. 


n 


he  reached  her  door.  It  was  still  unfastened,  Prudence 
had  kept  her  word,  and  not  gone  near  it ;  and  he  opened 
it,  and  helped  her  in. 

"  Where  now  ?  **  he  asked. 

"  Up-stairs,"  she  said,  feebly.  "  I  want  to  go  to  my 
o>vn  room." 

Ormiston  knew  where  that  was,  and  assisted  her  there 
as  tenderly  as  he  could  have  done  Lii  Masque  herself. 
He  paused  on  the  threshold ;  for  the  room  was  as  dark 
as  Hades. 

**  There  is  a  lamp  and  a  tinder-box  on  the  mantel,"  said 
the  faint,  sweet  voice,  "  if  you  will  only  please  to  find 
them." 

Ormiston  crossed  the  room — fortunately  he  knew  the 
latitude  of  the  place — and  moving  his  hand  with  gingerly 
precaution  along  the  mantel- shelf,  lest  he  should  upset 
any  of  the  gimcracks  thereon,  soon  obtained  the  articles 
named,  and  struck  a  light.  The  lady  was  leaning  wearily 
against  the  door-post,  but  now  she  came  forward,  and 
dLropped  exhausted  into  the  downy  pillows  of  a  lounge. 

"  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you,  madam  ?  "  began 
Ormiston,  with  as  solicitous  an  air  as  though  he  had  been 
her  father.  "  A  glass  of  wine  would  be  of  use  to  you,  I 
think ;  and  then,  if  you  wish,  I  will  go  for  a  doctor." 

"  You  are  very  kind.  You  will  find  wine  and  glasses 
in  the  room  opposite  this,  and  I  feel  so  faint  that  I  think 
you  had  better  bring  me  some." 

Ormiston  moved  across  the  passage,  like  the  good, 
obedient  young  man  that  he  was,  filled  a  glass  of  Bur- 
gundy, and  as  he  was  returning  with  it,  was  startled  by 
a  cry  from  the  lady  that  nearly  made  him  drop  and  shiver 
it  on  the  floor. 

"What  under  heaven  has  come  to  her  now?"  he 
thought,  hastening  in,  wondering  how  she  could  possibly 
have  come  to  grief  since  he  left  her. 

She  was  sitting  upright  on  the  sofa,  her  dress  pulled 
down  off  her  shoulder  where  the  plague-spot  had  been  j 
and  which,  to  his  amazement,  he  saw  now  pure  and  stain- 
less, and  free  from  every  loathsome  trace. 

"  You  are  cured  of  the  plague  I "  was  all  he  could  cry. 

«*  Thank  God  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  fervently  clasping  her 


7« 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QITEEN. 


I!'  f 


hands.    "  But  oh !  how  can  it  have  happened  ?    It  must 
be  a  miracle  1 " 

"  No,  it  was  your  plunge  into  the  river  ;  I  have  heard 
of  one  or  two  such  cases  before,  and  if  ever  I  take  it,"  said 
Ormiston,  half  laughing,  half  shuddering,  **  my  first  rush 
shall  be  for  old  Father  Thames.  Here,  drink  this ;  I  am 
certain  it  will  complete  the  cure." 

The  girl — she  was  nothing  but  a  girl — drank  it  off  and 
sat  upright  like  one  inspired  with  new  life.  As  she  set 
down  the  glass,  she  lifted  her  dark,  solemn,  beautiful  eyes 
to  his  face,  with  a  long,  searching  gaze. 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  "  she  simply  asked. 

**  Ormiston,  madam,"  he  said  bowing  low. 

**  You  have  saved  my  life,  have  you  not  ?  " 

"  It  was  the  Earl  of  Rochester  who  rescued  you  from 
the  river ;  but  I  would  have  done  it  a  moment  later." 

"  I  do  not  mean  that.  I  mean  " — with  a  slight  shud- 
der— "  are  you  not  one  of  those  I  saw  at  the  plague-pit  ? 
Oh  I  that  dreadful,  dreadful  plague-pit !  "  she  cried,  cover- 
ing her  face  with  her  hands. 

"  Yes,  I  am  one  of  those." 

"  And  who  was  the  other  ?  " 

"  My  friend.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley." 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  ?  "  she  softly  repeated,  with  a 
sort  of  recognition  in  her  voice  and  eyes,  while  a  faint 
roseate  glow  rose  softly  over  her  face  and  neck.  Ah  I 
I  thought — was  it  to  his  house  or  yours  I  was  brought?  " 

"  To  his,"  replied  Ormiston,  looking  at  her  curiously ; 
for  he  had  seen  that  rosy  glow,  and  was  extremely  puz- 
zled thereby ;  "  from  whence,  allow  me  to  add,  you  took 
your  departure  rather  imceremoniously." 
'  "  Did  I  ?  "  she  said,  in  a  bewildered  sort  of  way.  "  It's 
all  like  a  dream  to  me.  I  remember  Prudence  screaming, 
and  telling  me  I  had  the  plague,  and  the  unutterable  hor- 
ror that  filled  me  when  I  heard  it ;  and  then  the  next 
thing  I  recollect  is  being  at  the  plague-pit,  and  seeing 
your  face  and  his  bending  over  me.  AH  the  horror  came 
back  with  that  awakening,  and  between  it  and  the  anguish 
of  the  plague-sore  I  think  I  fainted  again  "  (Ormiston 
nodded  sagaciously),  and  when  I  next  recovered  I  was 
Olone  in  a  strange  room,  and  in  bed.    1  noticed  that,  though 


THE  EARL'S  BAKGE. 


ft 


1  think  I  must  heave  been  delirious.  And  then,  half-mad 
with  agony,  I  got  out  to  the  street,  somehow,  and  ran, 
and  ran,  and  ran,  until  the  people  saw  and  followed  me 
here.  I  suppose  I  had  some  idea  of  reaching  home  when 
I  came  here ;  but  the  crowd  pressed  so  close  behind,  and 
I  felt,  through  all  my  delirium,  that  they  would  bring  me 
to  the  pest-house  if  tliey  caught  me,  and  drowning  seomcv^ 
to  me  prefera]>le  to  that.  So  I  was  in  the  river  before  : 
knew  it — and  you  know  tl«e  rest  as  well  as  I  do.  Bui  i 
owe  you  my  life,  Mr.  Oriniston — owe  it  to  you  and  anothc  r ; 
and  I  thank  you  botli  witli  all  my  heart." 

"  Madam,  you  arc  too  grateful ;  and  I  don't  know  us  we 
have  done  anything  much  to  deserve  it." 

"  You  have  saved  my  life ;  and  though  you  may  think 
that  a  valueless  trifle,  not  worth  speaking  of,  I  assure  you 
I  view  it  in  a  very  different  light,"  she  said,  with  a  half 
smile. 

"  Lady,  your  life  is  invaluable  ;  but  as  to  our  saving  it, 
why,  you  would  not  have  us  throw  you  alive  into  the 
plague-pit,  would  you  ?  " 

"  It  would  have  been  rather  barbarous,  I  confess ;  but 
there  are  few  who  would  risk  infection  for  the  sake  of  a 
mere  stranger.  Instead  of  doing  as  you  did,  you  might 
have  sent  me  to  the  pest-house,  you  know." 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,  all  your  gratitude  is  due  to  Sir  Nor- 
man. He  managed  the  whole  affair,  and  what  is  more, 
fell — but  I  will  leave  that  for  himself  to  disclose.  Mean- 
time, may  I  ask  the  name  of  the  lady  I  have  been  so  for- 
tunate as  to  serve  ?  " 

"Undoubtedly,  sir — my  name  is  Leoline." 

"  Leoline  is  only  half  a  name." 

"  Then  I  am  so  unfortunate  as  only  to  possess  half  a 
name,  for  I  have  never  had  any  other." 

Ormiston  opened  his  eyes  very  wide,  indeed. 

"No  other  I  You  must  have  had  a  father  some  time 
in  your  life ;  most  people  have,"  said  the  young  gentle- 
man, reflectively. 

She  shook  her  head  a  little  sadly. 

"  I  never  had,  that  I  know  of,  either  father  or  mother, 
or  any  one  but  Prudence.  And  by  the  way,"  she  said, 
half  starting  up,  "  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  see  about 


i 


U 


n 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


11 

i 


this  same  Prudence.  She  must  be  somewhere  in  the 
house." 

**  Prudence  is  nowhere  in  the  house,"  said  Ormiston, 
quietly ;  ^  and  will  not  be,  she  says,  for  a  month  to  come. 
She  is  afraid  of  the  plague." 

**  Is  she  ?  "  said  Leoline,  fixing  her  eyes  on  him.  with  a 
powerful  glance.    "How  do  you  know  that?" 

"  I  heard  her  say  so  not  half  an  hour  ago,  to  a  lady  a 
few  doors  distant.    Perhaps  you  know  her — La  Masque." 

"  That  singular  being !  I  don't  know  her ;  but  I  have 
seen  her  often.  Why  was  Prudence  talking  of  me  to  her, 
I  wonder  ?  " 

"  That  I  do  not  know ;  but  talking  of  you  she  was,  and 
she  said  she  was  comuig  back  here  no  more.  Perhaps 
you  will  be  af mid  to  stay  here  alone  ?  " 

"  Oh  no,  I  am  used  to  being  alone,"  she  said,  with  a 
little  sigh ;  "  but  where,"  hesitating  and  blushing  vividly, 
"  where  is — I  mean  I  should  like  to  thank  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley." 

Ormiston  saw  the  blush  and  the  eyes  that  drooped,  and 
it  puzzled  him  again  beyond  measure. 

"Do  you  know  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  ?  "  he  suspiciously 
asked. 

"  By  sight  I  know  many  of  the  nobles  of  the  court," 
she  answered  evasively,  and  without  looking  up;  "they 
pass  here  olten,  and  Prudence  knows  them  all,  and  so  I 
have  learned  to  distinguish  them  by  name  and  sight,  your 
friend  among  the  rest." 

"  And  you  would  like  to  see  my  friend  ?  "  he  said,  with 
a  malicious  emphasis. 

"  I  would  like  to  tluuik  him,"  retorted  the  lady,  with 
some  asperity  ;  "  you  have  told  me  how  much  I  owe  liiiiij 
and  it' strikes  me  the  desire  is  somewhat  natural." 

"  Without  doubt  it  is,  and  it  will  save  Sir  Norman 
much  fruitless  labor ;  for  even  now  he  is  in  search  of  you, 
and  will  neither  rest  nor  sleep  until  he  finds  you." 

"  In  search  of  me  ?  "  she  said,  softly,  and  witli  that  rosy 
glow  again  illuminating  her  beautiful  face ;  "  lie  is  indeed 
kind,  and  I  am  most  anxious  to  thank  him." 

"  I  will  bring  him  hero  in  two  hours,  then,"  said  Ormis- 
ton, with  ^J^ergy ;  "  and  though  th?  hour  may  be  a  Uttle 


THE  KARL*S  BARGE. 


)9 


79 


Unseasonable,  I  hope  you  will  not  object  to  it ;  for  if  you 
do,  he  will  certainly  not  survive  until  morning." 

She  gaily  laughed,  but  her  cheek  was  scarlet. 

"  Rather  than  that,  Mr.  Ormiston,  I  will  even  see  him 
to-niglit.    You  will  find  me  here  wlien  you  come." 

"  You  will  not  run  away  again,  will  you  ?  "  said  Ormis- 
ton looking  at  her  doubtfully.  "  Excuse  me ;  but  you 
have  a  trick  of  doing  that,  you  know." 

Again  she  laughed  menily. 

"  I  think  you  may  safely  trust  me  this  time.  Are  you 
going?" 

By  way  of  reply,  Ormiston  took  his  hat  and  started  for 
the  door.    There  he  paused,  with  his  hand  upon  it. 

"  How  long  have  you  known  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  ?  " 
was  his  careless  artful  question. 

But  Leoline,  tapping  one  little  foot  on  the  floor,  and 
looking  down  at  it  with  hot  cheeks  and  humid  eyes,  an- 
swered not  a  word. 


bh 


th 


v\ 


80 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEIT. 


!'; 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


-I 


I 


11 


W 


: 


!     / 


i 


1 1 


t 


!  I 


ti 


THE    MIDNIGHT    QUEEN. 

When  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  entered  the  ancient  ruin, 
his  head  was  full  of  Leoliiie — when  he  knelt  down  to  look 
through  the  aperture  in  the  flagged  floor,  head  and  heart 
were  full  of  her  still.  But  the  moment  his  eyes  fell  on 
the  scene  beneath,  everything  fled  far  from  his  thoughts, 
Leoline  among  the  resit;  and  nothing  remained  but  a 
profound  and  absorbin;^  feeling  of  intensest  amaze. 

Right  lelow  him  be  beheld  an  immense  room,  of  which 
the  flag  he  had  raised  seemed  to  form  part  of  the  ceiling, 
in  a  remote  corner.  Evidently  it  was  one  of  a  range  of 
lower  vaults,  and  as  he  \was  at  least  fourteen  feet  above 
it,  and  his  corner  somewhat  in  shadow,  there  was  little 
danger  of  liis  ])oing  seen.  So,  leaning  far  down  to  look 
at  his  leisure,  he  took  the  goods  the  gods  provided  him, 
and  stared  to  liis  heart's  content. 

Sir  Norman  had  seen  some  queer  sights  during  the 
four-and-twenty  years  he  had  spent  in  this  queer  world, 
but  never  anything  quite  equal  to  this.  The  apartment 
below,  though  so  exceedingly  large,  was  lighted  with  the 
brilliance  of  noonday  ;  and  every  object  it  contained,  from 
one  end  to  tlie  other,  was  distinctly  revealed.  The  floor, 
from  glimpses  he  had  of  it  in  obscure  corners,  was  of 
stone :  but  from  end  to  end  it  was  covered  with  richest 
rugs  and  mats,  and  squares  of  velvet  of  as  I'mny  colors 
as  Joseph's  coat.  The  walls  were  hung  wit'  splendid 
tapestry,  gorfijeous  in  silk  and  coloring,  representing  the 
wars  of  Troy,  the  exploits  of  Coeur  de  Lion  among  the 
Saracens,  the  death  of  Hercules,  all  on  one  side ;  and  on 
the  other,  a  more  modern  representation,  the  Field  of  the 
Cloth  of  Gold.    The  illumination  proceeded  from  a  range 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


nn 


lof 

Irs 
lid 

le 
^le 

)n 


of  wax  tapers  in  silver  candelabra,  that  encircled  the  whole 
room.  The  air  was  redolent  of  perfumes,  and  filled  with 
strains  of  softest  and  sweetest  music  from  an  unseen  hand. 
At  one  extremity  of  the  room  was  a  huge  door  of  glass 
and  gilding ;  and  opposite  it,  at  the  other  extremity,  was 
a  glittering  throne.  It  stood  on  a  raised  dais,  covered 
witli  crimson  velvet,  reached  by  two  or  three  steps  car- 
peted with  the  same ;  the  throne  was  as  magnificent  as 
gold,  and  satin,  and  ornamentation  could  make  it,  A 
great  velvet  canopy  of  the  same  deep  rich  color,  cut  in 
antique  points,  and  heavily  hung  with  gold  fringe,  was 
above  the  seat  of  honor.  Beside  it,  to  the  right,  but  a 
little  lower  down,  was  a  similar  throne,  somewhat  less 
superb,  and  minus  a  canopy.  From  the  door  to  the  throne 
was  a  long  strip  of  crimson  velvet,  edged  and  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  arranged  in  a  sweeping  semicircle;  on 
either  side,  were  a  row  cf  great  carved,  gilded,  and  cush- 
ioned chairs,  brilliant,  too,  with  crimson  and  gold,  and 
each,  for  everyday  Christians,  a  throne  in  itself.  What 
between  the  blaze  of  illumination,  the  flashing  of  gilding 
and  gold,  the  tropical  flush  of  crimson  velvet,  the  rain- 
bows dyes  on  floor  and  walls,  the  intoxicating  gushes  of 
perfume,  and  the  delicious  strains  of  unseen  music,  it  is  no 
wonder  Sir  Norman  Kingsley's  head  was  spinning  like  a 
bewildered  teetotum. 

Was  he  sane — was  he  sleeping?  Had  he  drank  too 
much  wine  at  the  Golden  Crown,  and  had  it  all  gone  to 
his  head  ?  Was  it  a  scene  of  eastern  enchantment,  or 
v/ere  fairy-tales  true,  and  no  rayth  ?  Lika  Abou  Hassan, 
when  he  awoke  in  the  palace  of  the  facetious  Caliph  of 
Bagdad,  he  had  no  notion  of  believing  his  own  eycF*  and 
ears,  and  quietly  concluded  il;  was  all  an  optical  ill.ision, 
as  ghosts  are  said  to  be ;  but  he  quietly  resolved  to  stay 
there,  nevertheless,  and  see  hovv  the  dazzling  pltantas- 
magoria  would  end.  The  music  was  certainly  ravish  iner, 
and  it  seemed  to  him,  as  he  listened  with  enchanted  ears, 
that  he  never  wanted  to  wake  up  from  so  heavenly  a 
dream.  One  thing  struck  him  as  rather  odd ;  strange  and 
bewildering  as  everything  was,  it  did  not  seem  at  all 
strange  to  him,  on  the  contrary,  a  vague  idea  was  floating' 
mistily  through  his  mind  *'..it  lio  had  beheld  precisely  thQ 


■  t 


n 


i  ,1 


;  -I 


l\ 


11 ;! 

■    f 

1    'I 


"i     4 


; 

\  ! 

i  1  . 

i. 

1 

1 

i 

t 

;   I 


82 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QtJElN. 


same  thing  somewhere  before.  Probably  at  some  past 
period  of  his  life  he  had  underwent  a  similar  vision,  or 
had  seen  a  picture  somewhere  like  it  in  a  tale  of  magic, 
and  satisfying  himself  with  this  conclusion,  he  began 
wondering  if  the  genii  of  the  place  were  going  to  make 
their  appearance  at  all,  or  if  the  knowledge  that  human 
eyes  were  upon  them  had  scared  them  back  to  Erebus. 
While  still  ruminating  on  this  important  question,  a  por- 
tion of  the  tapestry,  almost  beneath  him,  shriveled  up 
and  up,  and  out  flocked  a  g^^ttering  throng,  with  a  musi- 
cal mingling  of  laughter  and  voices.  Still  they  came, 
more  and  more,  until  the  great  room  was  almost  filled, 
and  a  dazzling  throng  they  were.  Sir  Korman  had  min- 
gled in  many  a  brilliant  scene  at  Whitehall,  where  the 
gorgeous  court  of  Charles  shone  in  all  its  splendor,  with 
the  "  merry  monarch  "  at  their  head,  but  all  he  had  ever 
witnessed  at  the  king's  court  fell  far  short  of  this  pageant. 
Half  the  brilliant  llock  were  ladies,  superb  in  satins,  silks, 
velvets  and  jewels.  And  such  jewels !  every  gem  that 
ever  flashed  back  the  sunlight  sparkled  and  blazed  in 
blending  array  on  those  beautiful  bosoms  and  arms — 
diamonds,  pearls,  opals,  emeralds,  rubies,  garnets,  sap- 
phires, amethysts —every  jewel  that  ever  shone.  But 
neither  dresses  nor  /^ems  were  half  so  superb  as  the  peer- 
less forms  they  adorned ;  and  such  an  array  of  perfectly 
beautifil  faces,  from  purest  blond  to  brightest  brunette, 
had  never  met  and  mingled  together  before.  Each  lovely 
face  was  unmasked,  but  Sir  Norman's  dazzled  eyes  in 
vain  sought  among  them  for  one  he  knew.  "  All  that 
rosebud  garden  of  girls  "  were  perfect  strangers  to  him, 
but  not  to  the  gallants  who  fluttered  among  them  like 
moths  around  meteors.  They,  too,  were  in  gorgeous  array, 
in  purple  and  fine  linen,  which  being  interpreted,  signifieth 
in  silken  hose  of  every  color  under  the  sun,  spangled  and 
embroidered  slippers  radiant  with  diamond  buckles,  doub- 
lets of  as  many  different  shades  as  their  tights,  slashed 
with  satin  and  embroidered  with  gold.  Most  of  them 
wore  huge  powdered  wigs,  according  to  the  hideous 
fashion  then  in  vogue,  and  under  those  same  ugly  scalps, 
laughed  many  a  handsome  face  Sir  Norman  well  knew. 
The  majority  of  those  richly-robed  gallants  were  strangers 


ti 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


83 


to  him  as  well  as  the  ladies,  but  whoever  they  were, 
whether  mortal  men  or  "  spirits  from  the  vasty  deep," 
they  were  in  the  tallest  sort  of  clover  just  then.  Evi- 
dently, they  knew  it,  too,  and  seemed  to  be  on  the  best 
of  terms  with  themselves  and  all  the  world,  and  laughed, 
and  flirted,  and  flattered,  with  as  much  perfection  as  so 
manj'  ball-room  Apollos  of  the  present  day.  Still  no  one 
ascended  the  golden  and  crimson  throne,  thougli  nia:;y 
of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  fluttering  about  it  were 
arraye<l  as  royally  as  any  common  king  or  queen  nred 
wish  to  ))(;.  They  promenaded  up  and  down,  nrm  in  arm  ; 
the}''  seated  themselves  in  the  carved  and  gilded  chairs  ; 
they  gathered  in  little  groups  to  talk  and  laugh ;  did 
everything  in  short,  but  ascend  the  throne ;  and  the 
solitary  spectator  up  above  began  to  grow  intensely 
curious  to  know  who  it  was  for.  Their  conversation  he 
could  plainly  hear,  and  to  say  that  it  amazed  him  would 
be  to  use  a  feeble  expression,  altogether  inadequate  to  his 
feelings.  Not  that  it  was  the  remarks  they  made  that 
gave  his  system  such  a  shock,  but  the  names  by  which 
they  addressed  each  other.  One  answered  to  the  aspiring 
cognomen  of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland ;  another  was 
the  Earl  of  Leicester  ;  another,  the  Duke  of  Devonshire ; 
another,  the  Earl  of  Clarendon;  another,  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham;  and  so  on,  ad  inJiultKw,  dukes  and  earls 
alternately,  like  bricks  and  mortar  in  the  wall  of  a  house. 
There  were  other  dignitaries  besides,  some  that  Sir  Nor- 
man had  a  faint  recollection  of  hearing  were  dead  for 
some  yenrs — Cardinal  Wolsey,  Sir  Thomas  More,  tho 
Earl  of  Bothwell,  King  Henry  Darnley,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
the  Duke  of  Norfork,  the  Earl  of  Southampton,  the  Duke 
of  York,  and  no  end  of  others  ^vith  equally  sonorous  titles. 
As  for  mere  lords,  and  baronets,  and  such  small  deer, 
there  was  nothing  so  plebeian  present,  and  were  evidently 
looked  upon  by  the  distinguished  assembly,  like  small 
beer  in  thunder,  with  pity  and  contempt.  The  ladies, 
too,  were  all  duchesses,  marchionesses,  countesses,  and 
looked  lit  for  princesses.  Sir  Norman  thought,  though  he 
heard  none  of  them  styled  (piite  so  high  as  that.  The 
tone  of  conversation  was  ligl)t  luid  easy,  but  at  the  same 
time  extremely  ceremonious  and  courtly,  and  everybody 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


i  > 


;l; 


,1  * 


II 


>  I 


i  ll 


seemed  to  be  enjoying  themselves  in  the  most  delightful 
sort  of  way,  which  people  of  such  distinguished  rank,  I 
am  told,  seldom  do.  All  went  merry  as  a  marriage-bell, 
and  sweetly  over  the  gay  jingle  of  voices  rose  the  sweet, 
faint  strains  of  the  unseen  music. 

Suddenly  all  was  changed.  The  great  door  of  glass 
and  gilding  opposite  the  throne  was  flung  wide,  and  a 
grand  usher  in  a  grand  court  livery  ilourished  a  mighty 
grand  wand,  and  shouted,  in  a  stentorian  voice  : 

"  Back  ;  back,  ye  lieges,  and  make  way  for  Her  Majesty, 
Queen  Miranda  1  " 

Instantly  the  unseen  band  thundered  forth  the  national 
anthem.  The  splendid  throng  fell  back  on  either  hand 
in  profoundest  silence  and  expectation.  The  grand  usher 
mysteriously  disappeared,  and  in  his  place  there  stalked 
forward  a  score  of  soldiers,  with  clanking  swords  and 
fierce  mustaches,  in  the  gorgeous  uniform  of  the  king's 
body-gmird.  These  showy  warriors  arranged  themselves 
silently  on  either  side  of  the  crimson  thrones,  and  were 


followed  by  half  a  dozen 


dazzling 


personages,  the  fore- 


most crowned  with  a  miter,  armed  with  crozier,  and  robed 
in  the  ecclesiastical  glory  of  an  arcli-bishop,  but  the  face 
underneath,  to  the  deep  surprise  and  scandal  of  Sir  Nor- 
man, was  that  of  the  fastest  young  roue  of  Charles'  court ; 
after  him  came  another  pompous  dignitary  in  such  un- 
heard-of magnificence  that  the  unseen  looker-on  set  him 
down  for  a  prime  minister,  or  a  lord  high  chancellor  at 
the  very  least.  Tiie  somewhat  gaudy-looking  gentlemen 
who  stepi)ed  after  the  pious  prelate  and  peer,  wore  the 
stars  and  garters  of  foreign  courts,  and  were  evidently 
ambassadors  extraordinary  to  that  of  her  midnight  ma- 
jesty. After  them  came  a  snowy  flock  of  fair  young  girls, 
angels  but  the  wings,  slender  as  sylphs,  and  robed  in 
purest  white.  Each  bore  on  her  arm  a  basket  of  flowers, 
roses  and  rosebuds  of  every  tint,  from  snowy  white  to 
darkest  crimson,  and  as  they  floated  in  they  scattered 
them  lightly  as  they  went.  And  then  after  all  came 
another  vision,  "  the  last,  the  brightest,  the  best " — the 
Midnight  Queen  hcrscli.  One  oilier  figure  followed  her, 
and  as  they  entered,  a  shout  arose  from  the  whole  as- 
semblage :  "  Long  live  Queen  Miranda !  "    And  bowui^' 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEK 


85 


gracefully  and  easily  to  the  right  and  left,  the  queen,  with 
a  queenly  step  trod  the  long  crimson  carpet  and  mounted 
the  regal  throne. 

From  tlie  first  moment  of  his  looking  down,  Sir  Nor- 
man had  been  staring  with  all  the  eyes  in  his  head,  under- 
going one  shock  of  surprise  after  another  with  the  equa- 
nimity of  a  man  quite  used  to  it ;  but  now  a  cry  arose  to 
his  lips  and  died  there  in  voiceless  consternation.  For 
he  recognized  the  queen — well  he  might! — he  had  seen 
her  before,  and  her  face  was  the  face  of  Leoline !  As 
she  mounted  the  stairs,  she  stood  there  for  a  moment 
crowiied  and  sceptered,  before  sitting  down,  and  in  that 
moment  he  recognized  the  whole  scene.  That  gorgeous 
room,  and  its  gorgeous  inmates ;  that  regal  throne  and 
its  regal  owner,  all  became  palpable  as  the  sun  at  noon- 
day ;  that  slender,  exquisite  figure  robed  in  royal  purple 
and  ermine ;  the  uncovered  neck  and  arms,  snowy  and 
perfect,  abla/e  with  jewels ;  that  lovely  face,  like  snow, 
like  marble  in  its  whiteness  and  calm,  with  the  great, 
dark,  earnest  e^^es  looking  out,  and  the  waving  wealth  A 
hair  falling  arotnd  it.  It  was  the  very  scene,  and  room, 
and  vision,  that  La  Masque  had  shown  him  in  the  cal- 
dron and  that  face  was  the  face  of  Leoline,  and  the  earl's 
page.  Could  he  be  dreaming  ?  was  he  sane  or  mad,  or 
were  the  three  really  one  ?  While  he  looked,  the  bcjiutif ul 
queen  bowed  low,  and  amid  the  profoundest  and  most 
respectful  silence,  took  her  seat.  In  her  robes  of  purple, 
wearing  the  glittering  crown,  scepter  in  hand,  throned  and 
canopied,  royally  beautiful  she  looked  indeed,  and  a  most 
vivid  contrast  to  the  gentleman  near  her,  seated  very 
much  at  his  ease,  on  the  lower  throne.  The  contrast  was 
not  of  dress— for  his  outward  man  was  resplendent  to  look 
at ;  but  in  figure  and  face,  in  grace  and  dignity,  he  was 
a  ve^'y  mean  specimen  of  the  lords  of  creation,  indeed.  In 
stature,  he  scarcely  reached  to  the  queen's  royal  shoulder, 
but  made  up  sideways  what  he  Av^anted  in  length — being 
tho  breadth  of  two  common  men ;  his  head  was  in  pro- 
portion to  his  width,  and  was  decorated  with  a  wig  of 
long,  flowing,  flaxen  hair,  that  scarcely  harmonized  with 
a  profusion  of  the  article,  whiskers,  in  hue  most  unmiti- 
gated black  J  his  eyes  were  small,  keen,  bright  and  pierc- 


m 


Ir    3 

v. 


d6 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEK. 


V       fi 


ing,  and  glared  on  the  assembled  company  as  they  had 
done  half  an  hour  before  on  Sir  Noriuan  Kingsley,  in  the 
bar-room  of  the  Golden  Crown ;  for  the  royal  little  man 
was  no  other  than  Caliban ;  the  dwarf.  Behind  the  thrones 
the  flock  of  floral  angels  grouped  themselves  ;  archbishop, 
prime  minister,  and  ambassadors,  took  their  stand  within 
the  lines  of  the  soldiery,  and  the  music  softly  and  impres- 
sively died  away  in  the  distance;  dead  silenc3  reigned. 

"  My  lord  duke,"  began  the  queen,  in  the  very  voice  he 
had  heard  at  the  plague-pit,  as  she  turned  to  the  stylish 
individual  next  the  archbishop,  "  come  forward  and  read 
us  the  roU  of  mortality  since  our  last  meeting." 

His  giace,  the  duke,  instantly  stepped  forward,  bowing 
so  low  that  nothing  was  seen  of  him  for  a  brief  space,  but 
the  small  of  his  back,  and  when  he  reared  himself  up, 
after  this  convulsion  of  nature,  Sir  Norman  beheld  a  face 
not  entirely  new  to  him.  At  first,  he  could  not  imagine 
where  he  had  seen  it  but  speedily  he  recollected  it  was 
the  identical  face  of  the  highwayman  who  had  beaten  an 
inglorious  retreat  from  him  and  Count  L'Estrange  that 
very  night.  This  ducal  robber  drew  forth  a  roll  of  parch- 
ment, and  began  reading,  in  lachrymose  tones,  a  select 
litany  of  defunct  gentlemen,  with  hifalutin  titles,  who 
had  departed  this  life  during  the  present  week.  Most  of 
them  had  gone  with  the  plague,  but  a  few  had  died  from 
natural  causes,  and  among  these  were  the  Earls  of  Craven 
and  Ashley. 

"  My  lords  Craven  and  Ashley  dead ! "  exclaimed  the 
queen,  hi  tones  of  some  surprise,  but  very  little  anguish ; 
"  that  is  singular,  for  we  saw  them  not  two  hours  ago,  in 
excel  knit  health  and  spirits." 

"True,  your  majesty,"  said  the  duke,  dolefully,  "and 
it  is  not  an  hour  since  they  quitted  this  vale  of  tears. 
They  and  myself  rode  forth  at  nightfall,  according  to 
custom,  to  lay  your  majesty's  tax  on  all  travelers,  and 
soon  chanced  to  encounter  one  who  gave  vigorous  battle  ; 
still,  it  would  have  done  him  little  service,  had  not 
another  person  come  suddenly  to  his  aid,  and  between 
them  they  clove  the  skulls  of  Ashley  and  Craven ;  and  I, 
said  the  duke,  modestly,  "  I  left." 


I  ' 


THE  MIDNIGHT   QUEEN. 


87 


"  Were  either  of  the  travelers  young,  tall,  and  of  courtly 
bearing  ?  "  exclaimed  the  dwarf,  with  sharp  rudeness. 

"  Both  were,  your  higliness,"  replied  the  duke,  bowing 
to  the  small  speaker,  "  and  uncommonly  handy  with  their 
weapons." 

"I  saw  one  of  them  down  at  the  Golden  Crown  not 
long  ago,"  said  the  dwarf;  "a  forward  young  popinjay, 
and  mighty  inquisitive  about  this,  our  royal  pihK  e.  I 
promised  him  if  he  came  here  a  warm  reception — a  promise 
I  will  have  the  greatest  pleasure  in  fulfilling." 

"  You  may  stand  aside,  my  lord  duke,"  said  the  queen, 
with  a  graceful  wave  of  her  hand,  "  and  if  any  new  sub- 
jects have  been  added  to  our  court  since  our  last  weekly 
meeting,  let  them  come  forward  and  be  sworn." 

A  dozen  or  more  courtiers  immediately  stepped  forward, 
and  kneeling  before  the  queen,  announced  tlieir  name  and 
rank,  which  were  both  ambitiously  high.  A  few  silvery- 
toned  questions  were  put  by  that  royal  lady,  and  satis- 
factorily answered,  and  then  the  archbishop,  armed  with 
a  huge  tome,  administered  a  severe  and  searching  oath, 
Avhich  the  candidates  took  with  a  great  deal  of  samj  froid^ 
and  were  then  permitted  to  kiss  the  hand  of  the  queen — 
a  privilege  worth  any  amount  of  swearing — and  retire. 

"  Let  any  one  who  has  any  reports  to  make,  make  them 
inmiediately,"  again  commanded  her  majesty. 

A  number  of  gentlemen  of  high  rank,  presented  them- 
selves at  this  summons,  and  began  relating,  as  a  certain 
sect  of  Christians  do  in  church,  their  exjierience  !  Many 
of  these  consisted,  to  the  deep  disapproval  of  Sir  Norman, 
of  accounts  of  daring  liighAvay  robberies,  one  of  tliem  per- 
petrated on  the  king  himself,  which  distinguished  per- 
sonage the  duplicate  of  Leoline  styled  "our  brotlier 
Charles,"  and  of  the  suras  thereby  attiuiK^d.  The  treas- 
urer of  state  was  then  ordered  to  show  him'  if,  and  give 
an  account  of  the  said  moneys,  which  he  promptly  did ; 
and  after  him  came  a  number  of  petitionei-s,  praying 
for  one  thing  and  the  other,  some  of  which  the  queen 
promised  to  grr.nt,  and  some  she  didn't.  These  little 
affairs  of  state  being  over,  Miranda  turned  to  the  little 
gentleman  beside  her,  with  tlie  observation : 

♦*I  believe,  your  hi-,^l5noss,  it  is  on  this  night  the  Earl 


h 

I 


88 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


of  Gloucester  is  to  be  tried  on  a  charge  of  high  treason, 
13  it  not?" 

Ilis  highness  growled  a  respectful  assent. 

"  Then  let  him  be  ^rought  before  us,"  said  the  queen. 
"Go,  guaras,  and  fetch  him." 

Two  of  the  soldiers  bowed  low,  and  backed  from  the 
royal  presence,  amid  dead  and  ominous  silence.  At  this 
interesting  stage  of  the  proceedings,  as  Sir  Norman  v.tis 
leaning  forward,  breathless  and  excited,  a  footstep  sounded 
on  the  flagged  floor  beside  him,  and  some  one  suddenly- 
grasped  his  shoulder  with  no  gentle  hand. 


I'! 


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K. 


LEOLINE. 


89 


CHAPTER  IX. 


LEOLINE. 


In  one  instant  Sir  Norman  was  on  his  feet,  and  liis 
hand  on  his  sword.  In  tlie  tarry  darkness,  neither  the 
face  nor  figure  of  tlie  intruder  could  l)e  made  out,  l)ut  he 
merely  saw  a  darker  shadow  beside  him  standing  in  the 
sea  of  darkness.  Pci-lraps  he  might  liave  thought  it  a 
ghost,  but  that  the  hand  which  giaspcd  his  shoulder  was 
unmistakably  of  tlesh,  and  blood,  and  muscle,  and  the 
breathing  of  its  owner  was  distinctly  audible  by  his  side. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  demanded  Sir  Norman,  drawing  out 
his  sword,  and  wrenching  himself  free  from  his  unseen 
companion. 

"  Ah  !  it  is  you,  is  it  ?  I  thought  so,"  said  a  not  un- 
known voice.  "  I  have  been  calling  you  till  I  am  hoarse, 
and  at  last  gave  it  up,  and  started  after  you  in  despair. 
What  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

"  You,  Ormiston  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  in  the  last 
degree  astonished.  "  IIow — when — what  are  you  doing 
here?" 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  that's  more  to  the  purpose. 
Down  flat  on  your  face,  with  your  head  stuck  through 
that  hole.     What  is  below  there,  anyway  ?  " 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Sir  Norman,  hastily,  who,  for 
some  reason  quite  unaccountable  to  himself,  did  not  wish 
Ormiston  to  see.  "  There's  nothing  there  in  particular, 
but  a  lower  range  of  vaults.  Do  you  intend  telling  me 
what  has  brought  you  here  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  the  very  fleetest  horse  I  could  find  in  the 
city." 

"  Pshaw  !  You  don't  S'ly  so?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman, 
iOT vdalously.     "  But  I  presume  vou  had  some  object  in 


I 


W' 

f 

i  ■ 


90 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


tsiking  such  ii  gallop?  May  I  ask  what?  Your  anxious 
s()li(Mtud<!  on  my  account,  very  likely?" 

"Not  prec^iocly.  But  I  say,  Kingsley,  what  light  is 
tliat  shiiiiiip^  thruugh  there?    I  mean  to  see." 

"No,  you  won't,"  said  Sir  Norman,  rapidly  and  noise- 
lessly rcpla<'iiig  tlie  ilag.  "It's  nothing,  I  tell  you,  hut  a 
iiuuihcr  oi' wiil-o'-wisi)s  having  a  ball.  Finally,  and  for 
the  last  thne,  T^ir.  Oriiilston,  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  tell  me  what  has  sent  you  here  ?  " 

"  Come  out  to  the  air,  then.  I  have  no  fancy  for  talk- 
ing in  this  place  ;  it  smells  like  a  tomb." 

"There  is  notliing  Avrong,  I  hope?"  inquired  Sir  Nor- 
man, following  his  friend,  and  threading  his  way  gingerly 
through  the  piles  of  rubbish  in  the  profound  darkness. 

*'  Nothiiig  wrong,  Luit  everything  extremely  right.  Con- 
found this  place !  It  would  be  easier  walking  on  live 
eels  than  through  these  winding  and  lumbered  passages. 
Thank  the  fates,  we  are  through  them,  at  layt,  for  th(;re 
is  the  daylight,  or,  rather  the  night-light,  and  we  have 
escaped  without  any  bones  broken." 

They  had  reached  the  moldering  and  crumbling  door- 
way, shown  by  a  square  of  lighter  darkness,  and  ex- 
changed the  damp,  chill  atmosphere  of  the  vaults  for  the 
stagnant,  sultry  open  air.  Sir  Norman,  with  a  notion  in 
his  head  that  his  dwarfish  highness  might  have  placed 
sentinels  around  his  royal  residence,  endeavored  to  pierce 
the  gloom  in  search  of  them.  Though  he  could  discover 
none,  he  still  thought  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor, 
and  stepped  out  into  the  road. 

"  Now,  then,  where  are  you  going  ?  "  inquired  Ormiston, 
following  him. 

"  I  don't  wish  to  talk  here ;  there  is  no  telling  who 
may  be  listening.    Come  along." 

Ormiston  glanced  back  at  the  gloomy  ruin  looming  up 
like  a  black  specter  in  the  blackness. 

"  Well,  they  must  have  a  strong  fancy  for  eavesdrop- 
ping, I  must  say,  who  would  go  to  that  haunted  heap  to 
listen.  What  have  you  seen  there,  and  where  have  you 
left  your  horse  ?  " 

"  I  told  you  before,"  said  Sir  Norman,  rather  impatiently, 
«*  tW  I  have  seeii  nothing — at  leant  nothing  you  WQUld 


LEOLIKE. 


M 


care  about ;  and  my  horse  is  waiting  me  at  the  Golden 
Crown." 

"  Very  well,  we  hiiv(}  no  time  to  lose ;  so  f?et  there  as 
fast  as  you  can,  and  mount  him  and  ride  as  it'  the  demon 
was  after  you  back  to  London." 

"  Back  to  London  ?  Ls  the  man  crazy  ?  I  shall  do  no 
Buch  thing,  let  me  tell  you,  to-night." 

"  Oh,  just  as  you  please,"  said  Ormiston,  with  a  great 
deal  of  indifference,  considering  the  urgent  nature  of  his 
former  request.  "  You  can  do  as  you  like,  you  know, 
and  so  can  I — which,  translated,  means,  I  will  go  and  tell 
her  you  have  declined  to  come." 

"  Tell  her  ?  Tell  who  ?  What  are  you  talking  about  ? 
Hang  it,  man !"  exclaimed  SirXorman,  getting  somewhat 
excited  and  profane.  "What  are  you  driving  at?  Can't 
you  speak  out  and  tell  me  at  once  ?  " 

"  I  have  told  you ! "  said  Ormiston,  testily ;  "  and  I  tell 
you  again,  she  sent  me  in  search  of  you,  imd  if  you  don't 
choose  to  come,  that's  your  own  affair,  and  not  mine." 

This  was  a  little  too  much  for  Sir  Norman's  over- 
wrought feelings,  and  in  the  last  degree  of  exasperation, 
he  laid  violent  hands  on  the  collar  of  Ormiston's  doublet, 
and  shook  him  as  if  he  would  have  shaken  the  name  out 
with  a  jerk. 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Ormiston,  you  had  better  not 
aggravate  me  I  I  can  stand  a  good  deal,  but  I'm  not  ex- 
actly Moses  or  Job,  and  you  had  better  mind  what  you're 
at.  If  you  don't  come  to  the  point  at  once,  and  tell  me 
who  *  her '  is,  I'll  throttle  you  where  you  stand  ;  and  so 
give  you  warning." 

Half-indignant,  and  wholly  laughing,  Ormiston  stepped 
back  out  of  the  way  of  his  excited  friend. 

"  I  cry  you  mercy !  In  one  word,  then,  I  have  been 
dispatched  by  a  lady  in  search  of  you,  and  that  lady  is — 
Leoline." 

It  has  always  been  one  of  the  inscrutable  mysteries  in 
natural  philosophy  that  I  never  could  fathom,  why  men 
do  not  faint.  Certain  it  is,  I  never  yet  heard  of  a  man 
swooning  from  excess  of  surprise  or  joy,  and  perhaps  that 
may  account  for  Sir  Norman's  not  doing  so  on  the  present 
occasion.    But  he  came  to  an  abrupt  stand-still  in  theii: 


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THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


rapid  career ;  and  if  it  had  not  been  quite  so  excessively 
dark,  his  friend  would  have  beheld  a  countenance  won- 
derful to  look  on,  in  its  mixture  of  utter  astonishment 
and  sublime  consternation. 

"  Leoline  !  "  he  faintly  gasped.  "  Just  stop  a  moment, 
Dnniston,  and  say  that  again — will  you  ?  " 

" No,"  said  Ormiston,  hurrying  unconcernedly  on ;  "I 
i;ill  do  no  such  thing,  for  there  is  no  time  to  lose,  and  if 
there  was,  I  have  no  fancy  for  standing  in  this  dismal 
road.    Come  on,  man,  and  I'll  tell  you  as  we  go." 

Thus  adjured,  and  seeing  there  was  no  help  for  it,  Sir 
Norman,  in  a  dazed  and  bewildered  state,  complied ;  and 
Ormiston  promptly  and  briskly  relaxed  into  business. 

"  You  see,  my  dear  i'^ellow,  to  begin  at  the  beginning, 
after  you  left,  I  stood  at  ease  at  La  Masque's  door  await- 
ing that  lady's  return,  and  was  presently  rewarded  by 
seeing  her  come  up  with  an  old  woman  called  Prudence. 
Do  you  recollect  the  woman  who  rushed  screaming  out 
of  the  house  of  the  dead  bride  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes ! " 

"  Well,  that  was  Prudence.  She  and  La  Masque  were 
talking  so  earnestly  they  did  not  perceive  me,  and  I — 
well,  the  fact  is,  Kingsley,  I  stayed  and  listened.  Not  a 
very  handsome  thing,  perhaps,  but  I  couldn't  resist  it. 
They  were  talking  of  some  one  they  called  Leoline,  and 
I,  in  a  moment,  knew  that  it  was  your  flame,  and  that 
neither  of  them  knew  any  more  of  her  whereabouts  than 
we  did." 

"  And  yet  La  Masque  told  me  to  come  here  in  search 
of  her,"  interrupted  Sir  Norman. 

"  Very  true !  That  was  odd — wasn't  it  ?  This  Pru- 
dence, it  appears,  was  Leoline's  nurse,  and  La  Masque, 
too,  seemed  to  have  a  certain  authority  over  b*^r ;  and 
between  them,  I  learned  she  was  to  have  been  married 
this  very  night,  and  died — or,  at  least,  Prudence  thought 
80 — an  hour  or  two  before  the  time." 

"  Then  she  was  not  married  ?  "  cried  Sir  Norman,  in  an 
ecstasy  of  delight. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it ;  and  what  is  more,  didn't  want  to  be ; 
and  judging  from  the  remarks  of  Prudence,  I  should  say, 
rather  preferred  the  plague  of  the  two." 


LEOLINE. 


98 


**  Then  why  was  she  going  to  clo  it  ?  You  don*t  mean 
to  say  she  was  forced  ?  " 

"  Ah,  but  I  do,  though !  Prudence  owned  it  with  the 
most  charming  candor  in  the  world." 

"  Did  you  hear  the  name  of  the  person  she  was  to  have 
married  ?  "  asked  Sir  Norman,  with  kindling  eyes. 

« I  think  not ;  they  called  him  the  count,  if  my  memory 
serves  me,  and  Prudence  intimated  that  he  knew  notliini;" 
of  the  melancholy  fate  of  Mistress  Lecline.  Most  likely 
it  was  the  person  in  the  cloak  and  slouched  hat  we  s.iw 
talking  to  the  watchman." 

Sir  Norman  said  nothing,  but  he  thought  a  good  deal, 
and  the  burden  of  his  thoughts  was  an  ardent  and  heart- 
felt wish  that  the  Count  L'Estrange  was  once  more  under 
the  swords  of  the  three  robbers,  and  waiting  for  him  to 
ride  to  the  rescue — that  was  all  I 

"  La  Masque  urged  Prudence  to  go  back,"  continued 
Ormiston ;  "  but  Prudence  respectfully  declined,  and 
went  her  way  bemoaning  the  fate  of  her  darling.  When 
she  was  gone,  I  stepped  up  to  Madame  Masque,  and  that 
lady's  first  words  of  greeting  were  an  earnest  hope  that 
I  had  been  edified  and  improved  by  what  I  had  over- 
heard." 

"  She  saw  you,  then  ?  "  said  Sir  Norman. 

"  Saw  me  ?  I  believe  you  !  She  has  more  eyes  than 
ever  Argus  had,  and  each  one  is  as  sharp  as  a  cambric 
needle.  Of  course  I  apologized,  and  so  on,  and  she  for- 
gave me  handsomely,  and  then  we  fell  to  discoursing — 
need  I  tell  you  on  what  subject  ?  " 

"  Love,  of  course,"  said  Sir  Norman. 

"  Yes,  mingled  with  entreaties  to  take  off  her  mask 
that  would  have  moved  a  heart  of  stone.  It  moved  what 
was  better — the  heart  of  La  Masque ;  and,  Kingsley,  y!ie 
has  consented  to  do  it ;  and  she  says  that  if,  after  seeing 
her  face,  I  still  love  her,  she  will  be  my  wife." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  My  dear  Ormiston,  I  congratulate  you 
with  all  my  heart  I  " 

"  Thank  you !  After  that  she  left  me,  and  I  walked 
away  in  such  a  frenzy  of  deliglit  tliat  I  couldn't  havo  told 
whether  I  was  treading  this  earth  or  the  sliining  shores 
of  the  seventh  heaven,  when  suddenly  tliere  flcAv  past  me 


m 


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m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


i; 


11 


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a  figure  all  in  white — the  figure  of  a  bride,  Kingsley,  pur- 
sued by  an  excited  mob.  We  were  both  near  the  river, 
and  the  first  thing  I  knew,  she  was  plump  into  it,  with 
the  crowd  behind^  yelling  to  stop  her,  that  she  was  ill  of 
the  plague." 

"  Great  Heaven !  and  was  she  drowned  ?  " 

"  No ;  though  that  was  not  her  fault.  The  Earl  of 
liochester  and  his  page — you  remember  that  page,  I  fancy 
— were  out  in  their  barge,  and  the  earl  picked  her  up. 
Then  I  got  a  boat,  set  out  after  her,  claimed  her — for  I 
recognized  her,  of  course — brought  her  ashore,  and  de- 
posited her  safe  and  sound  in  her  own  house.  What  do 
you  think  of  that  ?  " 

"Ormiston,"  said  Sir  Norman,  catching  him  by  the 
shoulder,  with  a  very  excited  face,  "  is  this  true  ?  " 

"  True  as  preaching,  Kingsley,  every  word  of  it !  And 
the  most  extraordinary  part  of  the  business  is,  that  her 
dip  in  cold  water  has  effectually  cured  her  of  the  plague ; 
not  a  trace  of  it  remains." 

Sir  Norman  dropped  his  hand,  and  walked  on,  staring 
straight  before  him,  perfectly  speechless.  In  fact,  no 
known  language  in  the  v/orld  could  have  done  justice  to 
his  feelings  at  that  precise  period ;  for  three  times  that 
night,  in  three  different  shapes,  had  he  seen  this  same 
Leoline,  and  at  the  same  moment  he  was  watching  her 
decked  out  in  royal  state  in  the  ruin,  Ormiston  had  prob- 
ably been  assisting  her  from  her  cold  bath  in  the  river 
Thames.  Astonishment  and  consternation  are  words  alto- 
gether too  feeble  to  express  his  state  of  mind ;  but  one 
idea  remained  clear  and  bright  amid  all  his  mental  chaos, 
and  that  was,  that  the  Leoline  he  had  fallen  in  love  with 
dead,  was  awaiting  him,  alive  and  well,  in  London. 

"  W  ell,"  said  Ormiston,  "  you  don't  speak  !  What  do 
you  think  of  all  this  ?  " 

«  Think  I  I  can't  think — I've  got  past  that  long  ago  1  *' 
replied  his  friend,  hopelessly.  "  Did  you  really  say  Leo- 
line was  alive  and  well  ?  "  - 

"  And  waiting  for  you — yes,  I  did,  and  I  repeat  it ;  and 
the  sooner  you  g(?t  back  to  town,  the  sooner  you  will  see 
her ;  so  don't  loiter." 


LEOLINE. 


% 


**  Ormiston,  what  do  you  mean  ?  Is  it  possible  I  can 
see  her  to-night  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is  ;  the  dear  creature  is  waiting  for  you  even 
now.  You  see,  after  we  got  to  the  house,  and  she  had 
consented  to  come  to  a  trifle,  mutual  explanations  ensued, 
by  which  it  appeared  she  had  run  away  from  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley's  in  a  state  of  frenzy,  had  jumped  into  the  river 
in  a  similar  excited  state  of  mind,  and  was  most  anxious 
to  go  down  on  her  pretty  knees  and  thank  the  aforesaid 
Sir  Norman  for  saving  her  life.  What  could  any  one 
as  gallant  as  myself  do  under  these  circumstances,  but 
offer  to  set  forth  in  quest  of  that  gentleman  ?  And  she 
promptly  consented  to  sit  up  and  wait  his  coming,  and 
dismissed  me  with  her  blessing,  And,  Kingsley,  I've  a 
private  notion  she  is  as  deeply  affected  by  you  as  you  are 
by  her ;  for,  when  I  mentioned  your  name,  she  blushed, 
yea,  verily  to  the  roots  of  her  hair ;  and  when  she  spoke 
of  you,  couldn't  so  much  as  look  me  in  the  face — which 
is,  you  must  own,  a  very  bad  symptom." 

**  Nonsense  !  "  said  Sir  Norman,  energetically.  And 
had  it  been  daylight,  his  friend  would  have  seen  that  he 
blushed  almost  as  extensively  as  the  lady.  "  She  doesn't 
know  me." 

"  Ah,  doesn't  she,  though  ?  That  shows  all  you  know 
about  it  I  She  has  seen  you  go  past  the  window  many 
and  many  a  time  ;  and  to  see  you,"  said  Ormiston,  mak- 
ing a  grimace  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  "  is  to  love ! 
She  told  me  so  herself." 

«  What  ?  That  she  loved  me  ?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman, 
his  notions  of  propriety  to  the  last  degree  shocked  by 
such  a  revelation. 

"  Not  altogether,  she  only  looked  that ;  but  she  said 
she  knew  you  well  by  sight,  and  by  heart,  too,  as  I  in- 
ferred from  her  countenance  when  she  said  it.  There, 
now,  don't  make  me  talk  any  more,  for  I  have  told  you 
everything  I  know,  and  am  about  hoarse  with  my  exer- 
tions." 

"  One  thing  only — did  she  tell  you  who  she  was  ?  " 

"  No,  except  that  her  name  was  Leoline,  and  nothing 
else — which  struck  me  as  being  slightly  impossible. 
Doubtless  she  will  tell  you  everything,  and  one  piece  of 


96 


THE  ]MIDNIGHT  QrEEN". 


IV. 


I 


advice  I  may  venture  to  give  you,  which  is,  you  may 
propose  as  soon  as  you  like,  without  fear  of  rejection. 
Here  we  are  at  the  Golden  Crown,  so  go  in  and  get  your 
horse,  and  let  us  be  off." 

All  this  thno  Onniston  had  been  leading  his  own  horse 
by  the  bridle,  and  as  Sir  Norman  silently  complied  with 
his  suggestion,  in  live  minutes  they  were  in  their  saddles, 
and  galloping  at  break-neck  speed  toward  the  city.  To 
tell  the  truth,  one  was  not  more  inclined  for  silence  than 
the  other,  and  the  i)rofoundest  €and  thoughtfulest  silence 
was  mainUiined  till  they  reached  it.  One  was  thinking 
of  Leoline,  the  other  of  La  Masque,  and  both  were  very 
badly  in  love,  and  just  at  that  particular  moment,  very 
happy.  Of  course,  the  happiness  of  people  in  that  state 
never  lasts  longer  than  half  an  hour  at  a  stretch,  and 
then  they  are  plunged  back  again  into  misery  and  dis- 
traction ;  but  while  it  does  last,  it  is  very  intense  and 
delightful  indeed. 

Our  two  friends,  having  drained  the  bitters,  had  got  to 
the  sugar  at  the  bottom  of  the  iup,  and  neither  knew  that 
no  sooner  were  the  sweets  swallowed,  than  it  was  to  be 
replenished  with  a  doubly-bitter  dose.  Neither  of  them 
dismounted  till  they  reached  the  house  of  Leoline,  and 
there  Sir  Norman  secured  his  horse,  and  looked  up  at  it 
with  a  beating  heart.  Not  that  it  was  very  unusual  for 
his  heart  to  beat,  seeing  it  never  did  anything  else  ;  but 
on  that  occasion  its  motion  was  so  much  accelerated,  that 
any  doctor  feeling  his  pulse  might  li<ave  justly  set  him 
down  as  a  bad  case  of  heart-disease.  A  small,  bright  ray 
of  light  streamed  like  a  beacon  of  hope  from  an  upper 
window,  and  the  lover  looked  at  it  as  a  clouded  mariner 
might  at  the  shining  of  the  North  Star. 

"  Are  you  coming  in,  Ormiston  ?  "  he  inquired,  feeling, 
for  the  first  tine  in  his  life,  almost  bashful.  "  It  seems 
to  me  it  would  only  be  right,  you  know." 

"  I  don't  mind  going  in  and  introducing  you,"  said 
Ormiston  ;  "  but  after  you  have  been  delivered  over,  you 
may  fight  your  own  battles,  and  take  care  of  yourself. 
Come  on." 

The  door  was  unfastened,  and  Ormiston  sprung  up- 
stairs with  the  air  of  a  man  quite  at  home,  followed  moio 


lEOLlNE. 


^7 


decorously  by  Sir  Norman.  The  door  of  the  lady's  room 
stood  ajar,  as  he  had  left  it,  and  in  answer  to  his  "  tapping 
at  the  chamber-door,"  a  sweet  female  voice  called,  "  Come 


>» 


in. 

Ormiston  promptly  obeyed,  and  the  next  instant  they 
were  in  the  room,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  dead  bride. 
Certainly  she  did  not  look  dead,  but  very  much  alive, 
just  then,  as  she  sat  in  an  easy-chair,  drav/n  up  before 
the  dressing-table,  on  which  stood  the  solittiry  lamp  that 
illumed  the  chamber.  In  one  hand  she  held  a  small 
mirror,  or,  as  it  was  then  called,  a  "  sprunking-glass,"  in 
which  she  was  contemplating  her  own  beauty,  with  as 
much  satisfaction  as  any  other  pretty  girl  might  justly 
do.  She  had  changed  her  drenched  dress  during  Ormis- 
ton's  absence,  and  now  sat  arrayed  in  a  swelling  ampli- 
tude of  rose-colored  satin,  her  dark  hair  clasped  and  bound 
by  a  circle  of  milk-white  pearls,  and  her  pale,  beautiful 
face  looking  ten  degrees  more  beautiful  than  ever,  in  con- 
trast with  the  bright  rose-silk,  shining  dark  hair,  and  rich 
white  jewels.  She  rose  up  as  they  entered,  and  came 
forward  with  the  same  glow  in  her  face  and  the  same 
light  in  her  eyes  that  one  of  them  had  seen  before,  and 
stood  with  drooping  eyelashes,  lovely  as  a  vision,  in  the 
center  of  the  room. 

"  You  see  I  have  lost  no  time  in  c  oying  your  lady- 
ship's commands,"  began  Ormiston,  boving  low.  "Mis- 
tress Leoline,  allow  rae  to  present  Sir  Norman  Kingsley." 

Sir  Norman  Kingsley  bent  almost  as  profoundly  before 
the  lady  as  the  lord  high  chancellor  had  done  before 
Queen  Miranda  ;  and  the  lady  courtesied,  in  return,  until 
her  pink  satin  skirt  ballooned  out  all  over  the  floor.  It 
was  quite  an  affecting  tableau.  And  so  Ormiston  felt 
as  ho  stood  eying  it  witli  preternatural  gravity. 

"I  owe  my  life  to  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,"  murmured 
the  faiflt,  sweet  voice  of  the  lady,  "  and  could  not  rest 
until  I  had  thanked  liim.  I  have  no  words  to  say  how 
deeply  thankful  and  grateful  I  am." 

"  Fairest  Leoline !  one  word  from  such  lips  would  be 
enough  to  repay  me,  had  I  done  a  thousand-fold  more," 
responded  Sir  Norman,  laying  his  hand  on  his  heart,  with 
another  deep  geuufleoUon. 


08 


THE  :\nDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"Very  pretty,  indeed  !  "  remarked  Oriniston  to  himself 
with  a  little  approving  nod  ;  "  but  I'm  afraid  they  won't 
be  able  to  keep  it  up,  andj^oon  talking  on  stilts  like  that, 
till  they  have  tinislie(l.  Perhaps  they  may  get  on  all  the 
the  better  if  I  take  myself  off,  three  being  always  one 
too  many  in  a  case  like  tliis."  Then,  aloud  :  "  Madam,  I 
regret  that  I  am  obliged  to  depart,  having  a  most  par- 
ticular appointment ;  but,  doubtless,  my  friend  will  be 
able  to  express  himself  without  my  assistance.  I  have 
the  honor  to  wish  you  both  good  night." 

With  which  neat  and  appropriate  speech,  Ormiston 
bowed  himself  out,  and  was  gone  before  Leoline  could 
detain  him,  even  if  she  wished  to  do  so  I  Probably,  how- 
ever, she  thought  the  care  of  one  gentleman  sufficient 
responsibility  at  once  ;  for  she  did  not  look  very  seriously 
distressed  by  his  departure  ;  and,  the  moment  he  disap- 
peared. Sir  Norman  brightened  up  wonderfully.  It  is 
very  discomposing  to  the  feelings  to  make  love  in  the 
presence  of  a  third  party  ;  and  Sir  Norman  had  no 
intention  of  wasting  his  time  on  anything,  and  went  at 
it  immediately.  Taking  her  hand,  with  a  grace  that 
would  have  beaten  Sir  Charles  Grandison  or  Lord  Ches- 
terfield all  to  nothing,  he  led  her  to  a  couch,  and  took  a 
seat  as  near  her  as  was  at  all  polite  or  proper,  consider- 
ing the  brief  nature  of  their  acquaintance.  The  curtains 
were  drawn  ;  the  lamp  shed  a  faint  light ;  the  house  was 
still,  and  there  was  no  intrusive  papa  to  pounce  down 
upon  them  ;  the  lady  was  looking  down,  and  seemed  in  no 
way  haughty  or  discouraging,  and  Sir  Norman's  spirits 
went  up  with  a  jump  to  boiling-point.  Yet  the  lady, 
witli  all  her  pretty  bashfulness,  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"I  am  afraid.  Sir  Norman,  you  must  think  this  a 
singular  hour  to  come  here  ;  but,  in  these  dreadful  times, 
we  cannot  tell  if  we  may  live  from  one  moment  to  another, 
and  I  should  not  like  to  die,  or  have  you  die,  without  my 
telling,  and  you  hearing,  all  my  gratitude.  For  I  do 
assure  you,  Sir  Norman,"  lifting  her  dark  eyes  with  the 
prettiest  and  most  bewitching  earnestness,  "  that  I  am 
grateful,  though  I  cannot  find  words  to  express  it." 

«  Madam,  I  would  not  listen  to  you  if  you  would,  for  T 
bave  done  nothing  to  deserve  thanks.    I  wish  I  coiild 


LEOLINE. 


99 


r  T 

uld 


tell  you  what  I  felt  when  Ormistcn  told  me  you  were 
alive  and  safe." 

"  You  are  very  kind  ;  but  pray  do  not  call  me  madam. 
Say  Leoline." 

"  A  thousand  thanks,  dear  Leoline ! "  exclaimed  Sir 
Norman,  raising  her  hand  to  his  lips,  and  quite  beside 
himself  witli  ecstasv. 

"  Ah,  I  did  not  tell  you  to  say  that ! "  she  cried,  with  a 
gay  laugli  and  vivid  blush.  "  I  never  said  you  were  to 
call  me  dear." 

"  It  arose  from  my  lieart  to  my  lips,"  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, with  thrilling  earnestness  and  a  fervid  glanc^e ; 
"  for  you  are  dear  to  me — dearer  than  all  the  world  be- 
side ! " 

Tlie  flush  took  a  deeper  glow  on  the  lady's  face  ;  but 
singular  to  relate,  she  did  not  look  the  least  surprised  or 
displeased  ;  and  the  hand  he  had  feloniously  purloined 
lay  passive  and  quite  contented  in  his. 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  is  pleased  to  jest,"  said  the  lady, 
in  a  subdued  tone,  and  with  her  eyes  fixed  pertinaciously 
on  her  shining  dress  ;  "  for  he  has  never  spoken  to  me  be- 
fore in  his  life." 

"  That  has  nothing  to  do  with  it,  Leoline.  I  love  you 
as  devotedly  as  if  I  had  known  you  from  your  birth-day ; 
juid,  strange  to  say,  I  feel  as  if  we  had  been  friends  for 
years  instead  of  minutes.  I  cannot  realize  at  all  that 
you  are  a  stranger  to  mo !  " 

Leoline  laughed 

«  Nor  I ;  though,  for  that  matter,  you  are  not  a  stranger 
to  me,  k^ir  Norman !" 

«  Am  I  not  ?    How  is  that  ?  "  . 

"  I  have  seen  you  go  past  so  often,  you  know,  and  Pru- 
dence told  me  who  you  were  ;  and  so  I  used — I  used — " 
hesitating  and  glowing  to  a  degree  before  which  her  dress 
paled. 

"Well,  dearest,"  said  Sir  Norman,  getting  from  the 
po  itive  to  the  superlative  at  a  juni}),  an:l  diminishing 
the  distance  between  them,  "you  used  to  what? " 

"  To  watch  for  you  ! "  said  Leoline,  in  a  sly  whisper. 
"And  so  I  have  got  to  know  you  very  well." 


100 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I) 


«  My  own  darling  !  And,  oh,  Leoline  !  may  I  hope — 
dare  I  hope — that  you  do  not  altogether  hate  me?" 

Leoline  looked  rellective  ;  though  her  black  eyes  were 
flashing  under  their  sweeping  lashes. 

"  Why,  no,"  she  said,  demurely,  "  I  don't  know  as  I 
do.  It's  very  sinful  and  improper  to  hate  one's  fellow- 
creatures,  you  know,  Sir  Norman,  and  therefore  I  don't 
indulge  in  it." 

« Ah,  you  are  given  to  piety,  I  see.  In  that  case,  per- 
haps you  are  aware  of  a  precept  commanding  us  to  love 
our  neighbors.  Now,  I'm  your  nearest  neighbor  at  pres- 
ent ;  so,  to  keep  up  a  consistent  Christian  spirit,  just  be 
good  enough  to  say  you  love  me  ! " 

Again  liColine  laughed,  and  this  time  the  bright,  danc- 
ing eyes  beamed  in  their  sparkling  darkness  full  upon 
him. 

"I  am  afraid  your  theology  is  not  very  sound,  my 
friend,  and  I  have  a  dislike  to  extremes.  There  is  a 
middle  course  between  hating  and  loving.  Suppose  I 
take  tliat?" 

"  I  will  have  no  middle  courses — either  hating  or  loving 
it  must  be.  Leoline  !  Leoline !  "  bending  over  her  and 
imprisoning  both  hands  this  time,  "  do  say  you  love  me ! " 

"I  am  captive  in  your  hands,  and  must,  I  suppose. 
Yes,  Sir  Norman,  I  do  love  you !  " 

Every  man  hearing  that  for  the  first  time  from  a  pair 
of  loved  lips  is  privileged  to  go  mad  for  a  brief  season, 
and  to  go  through  certain  maneuvers  much  more  delect- 
able to  the  enjoyers  thereof  than  to  society  at  large.  For 
fully  ten  minutes  after  Leoline's  last  speech,  there  was 
profound  silence.  But  actions  sometimes  speak  louder 
than  words,  and  Leoline  was  perfectly  convinced  that 
her  declaration  had  not  fallen  on  insensible  ears.  At  the 
end  of  that  period,  the  space  between  them  on  the  couch 
had  so  greatly  diminished,  that  the  ghost  of  a  zephyr 
would  have  been  crushed  to  death  trying  to  get  between 
them,  and  Sir  Norman's  face  was  fairly  radiant.  Leoline 
herself  looked  rather  beaming,  and  she  suddenly,  and 
without  provocation,  burst  into  a  merry  peal  of  laughter. 

"Well,  for  two  people  who  were  perfect  strangers  to 
each  other  half  an  hour  ago,  I  think  we  have  gone  on 


LEOLINE. 


101 


lat 

the 

ich 

lyr 

3en 

line 

]iid 

ter. 

to 

on 


remarkaV)ly  well.  What  will  ^Ir.  Ormiston  und  Prudence 
say,  I  wondtr,  when  they  hear  this ? " 

"They  will  say  what  is  the  truth — that  I  am  the 
luckiest  man  in  Eiiglaiid.  Oh,  Leolinel  I  never  thought 
it  was  in  me  to  love  any  one  as  I  do  you." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it ;  hut  1  know  that  it  was 
in  me  long  hefore  I  ever  dreamed  of  knowing  you.  Are 
you  not  anxious  to  know  something  ahout  the  future 
Lady  Kingsley's  past  history  ?  " 

« It  will  all  come  in  good  time  ;  it  is  not  well  to  have  a 
surfeit  of  joy  in  one  night." 

"  I  do  not  know  that  this  will  add  to  your  joy  ;  but  it 
had  better  be  told  and  be  done  with,  at  once  and  forever. 
In  the  first  place,  I  presume  I  am  an  orphan,  for  I  have 
never  known  father  or  mother,  and  I  have  never  had  any 
other  name  but  Leoline." 

**  So  Ormiston  told  me." 

**  My  first  recollection  is  of  Prudence  ;  she  was  my 
nurse  and  governess,  both  in  one  ;  and  we  lived  in  a 
cottage  by  the  sea — I  don't  know  where,  but  a  long 
way  from  this.  When  I  was  about  ten  years  old,  we  left 
it,  and  came  to  London,  and  lived  in  a  house  in  Cheapside, 
for  five  or  six  years  ;  and  then  we  moved  here.  And  all 
this  time,  Sir  Norman — you  will  think  it  strange — but  I 
never  made  any  friends  or  acquaintances,  and  knew  no 
one  but  Prudence  and  an  old  Italian  professor,  who  came 
to  our  lodgings  in  Cheapside,  every  week,  to  give  me 
lessons.  It  was  not  because  I  disliked  society,  you  must 
know  ;  but  Prudence,  with  all  her  kindness  and  goodness 
— and  I  believe  she  truly  loves  me — has  been  nothing 
more  or  less  all  my  life  than  my  jailer." 

She  paused  to  clasp  a  belt  of  silver  brocade,  fastened  by 
a. pearl  buckle,  close  around  her  little  waist,  and  Sir  Nor- 
man fixed  his  eyes  upon  her  beautiful  face  with  a  power- 
ful glance  : 

"  Knew  no  one — that  is  strange,  Leoline  !  Not  even 
the  Count  L'Estrange  ?  " 

"  Ah  I  you  know  him  ?  "  she  cried,  eagerly,  lifting  her 
eyes  with  a  bright  look  ;  "  do — do  tell  me  who  he  is  ?  " 

"  Upon  my  honor,  my  dear,"  said  Sir  Norman,  consid- 
erably taken  aback,  "it  strikes  me  you  are  the  person  to 


102 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


answer  that  question.  If  T  don't  gieutly  mistake,  some- 
body told  me  yon  wore  going  to  marry  liim." 

"Oil,  so  I  was,"  said  Leoline,  witli  tlie  utmost  sim- 
plicity. "  lUit  I  don't  know  him,  for  all  that;  and 
ru}\v  than  that.  Sir  Norman,  I  do  not  believe  his  name  is 
(Vmiil  I/Estrange  any  more  than  mine  is." 

*'  rri'c'isely  my  opinion  ;  but  why,  in  the  name  of , 

..  >,  I'll  not  swear;  but  why  were  you  going  to  marry 


iiiin,  Leoline  ?" 


Leoline  half- pouted,  and  shrugged  her  pretty  pink- 
satin  shoulders. 

"  Because  I  couldn'i  help  it — that's  why.  He  coaxed, 
and  coaxed ;  and  I  said  no,  and  no,  and  no,  until  I  got 
tired  of  it.  Prudence,  too,  was  as  bad  as  he  was,  until 
between  tliem  I  got  about  distracted,  and  at  last  con- 
sented to  marry  him  to  get  rid  of  him." 

"  My  poor,  persecuted  little  darling  !  Oh,"  cried  Sir 
Norman,  with  a  burst  of  enthusiasm,  "  how  I  should  ad- 
mire to  have  Count  L'Estrange  here  for  about  ten  min- 
utes, just  now  !  I  would  spoil  his  next  wooing  for  him, 
or  I  am  mistaken  I  " 

"  No,  no  I "  said  Leoline,  looking  rather  alarmed  ; 
"  you  must  not  fight,  you  know.  I  shouldn't  at  all  like 
either  of  you  to  get  killed.  Besides,  he  has  not  married 
me  ;  and  so  there's  no  harm  done." 

Sir  Norman  seemed  rather  struck  by  that  view  of  the 
case,  and  after  a  few  moments'  reflection  on  it,  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  she  knew  best,  and  settled  down 
peaceably  again. 

"  Why  do  you  suppose  his  name  is  not  Count 
L'Estrange?"  he  asked. 

"For  mfiny  reasons.  First — he  is  disguised;  wears 
false  whiskers,  mustache  and  wig,  and  even  the  voice  he 
uses  appears  assumed.  Then  Prudence  seems  in  the 
greatest  awe  of  him,  and  she  is  not  one  to  be  easily  awed. 
I  never  knew  her  to  be  in  the  slightest  degree  intimidated 
by  any  human  being  but  himself  and  that  mysterious 
woman.  La  Masque."  * 

"  Ah  !  you  know  La  Masque,  then  ?  " 

**  Not  personally  ;  but  I  have  seen  her  as  I  did  you, 


LEOLINE. 


108 


rou, 


you  remember,"  with  nii   Jirc'li  glance;  "aiirl,  like  yon, 
beinpf  itwre  seen,  is  not  to  be  forgotten." 

Sir  Xornian  promptly  paid  her  for  the  compliment  iu 
Cupid's  own  eoin. 

"Little    flatterer!     I     ean     almost     forgive      Count 
L'Estrango  for  wanting  to  marry  you  ;  for  I  pifsumo  he 
is  only  a  man,  and   not  (piite  equal   to   iin[H)ssil)iliti(  s 
How  long  is  it  since  you  knew  him  lirst  ?" 

"Not  two  montiis.  My  courtships,"  said  l.eolinc, 
with  a  gay  laugh,  ••  s(>em  destined  to  l>e  of  tiie  shortest. 
He  saw  me  one  evening  in  the  window,  and  innnediateiy 
insisted  on  being  admitted  ;  and,  after  that,  he  continued 
coming  until  I  had  to  promise,  as  I  have  told  you,  to  j)e 
Countess  L'Estrange." 

"He  cannot  be  nuich  of  a  gentleman,  or  he  would  not 
attempt  to  force  a  lady  against  her  will.  And  so,  when 
you  were  dressed  for  your  bridal,  you  found  you  had  the 
plague  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Sir  Norman  ;  and  horrible  as  that  was  1  do 
assure  you  I  almost  preferred  it  to  marrying  him." 

"  Leoline,  tell  me  how  long  it  is  since  you've  known 
me?" 

"  Nearly  three  months,"  said  Leoline,  blushing  again 
celestial  rosy  red. 

"  And  how  long  have  you  loved  me  ?  " 

"  Nonsense.     What  a  question !     1  shall  not  tell  you." 

"  You  shall — you  nmst — I  insist  upon  it.  Did  you 
love  me  before  you  met  the  count  V    Out  with  it." 

"  Well,  then — yes  ! "  cried  Leoline,  desperately. 

Sir  Norman  raised  the  hand  he  held  in  rapture  to  his 
lips. 

"  My  darling  I  But  I  will  reserve  my  raptures,  for  it  is 
gi'owing  late,  and  I  know  you  must  want  to  go  to  rest. 
I  have  a  thousand  things  to  tell  you,  but  they  must  wait 
for  daylight ;  only  I  will  premise,  before  parting,  that 
this  is  the  last  night  you  must  spend  here." 

Leoline  opened  her  bright  eyes  very  wide. 

"  To-morrow  morning,"  went  on  Sir  Norman,  impress- 
ively, and  with  dignity,  "  you  will  be  up  and  dressed  by 
sunrise,  and  sliortly  after  tijit  radiant  perio  1  I  will  make 
my  appearance  with  two  horses—one  of  ^';hich  I  tjbtiU 


104 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


ride,  and  the  other  I  shall  lead ;  the  one  I  lead  you  shall 
mount,  and  we  will  ride  to  the  nearest  church,  and  be 
married  without  any  pomp  or  pageant ;  and  then  Sir 
Norman  and  Lady  Kingsley  will  immediately  leave 
London,  and  in  Kingsley  Castle,  Devonshire,  will  enjoy 
the  honeymoon  and  blissful  repose  till  the  plague  is 
OA  sr.     Do  you  understand  that  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,"  she  answered,  with  a  radiant  face. 

"  And  agree  to  it  ?  " 

"  You  know  I  do,  Sir  Norman ;  only — " 

**  Well,  my  pet,  only  what?  " 

"  Sir  Normnn,  I  should  like  to  see  Pruderce.  I  want 
Prudence:     IIow  can  I  leave  her  behind  ?  " 

"My  dear  child,  she  made  nothing  of  leaving  you  when 
she  thought  j^ou  weie  dying  ;  so  never  mind  Prudence, 
but  say  will  you  be  ready  ?  " 

« I  will." 

"  That  is  my  good  little  Leoline.  Now  give  me  a  kiss, 
Lady  Kingsley,  and  good-night." 

Lady  Kingsley  dutifully  obeyed  ;  and  Sir  Norman 
went  out  with  a  glow  at  his  heart,  like  a  halo  round  a  full 
moon. 


h 


^  t 


%. 


k 


THE  PAGE,  IKE  FIRES  AND  THE  FALL.  105 


CHAPTER  X. 


It 


n 


11 


THE    PAGE,    THE    FIRES    AND    THE    FALL. 

The  night  was  intensely  dark  when  Sir  Norman  got 
into  it  once  more  ;  and  to  any  one  else  would  have  been 
intensely  dismal,  iDut  to  Sir  Norman  all  was  bright  as  the 
fair  hills  of  Beulah.  When  all  is  bright  within,  we  see 
no  darkness  without ;  and  just  at  that  moment  our  young 
knight  had  got  into  one  of  those  green  and  golden 
glimpses  of  sunshine  that  here  and  there  checker  life's 
rather  dark  pathway,  and  with  Leoline  beside  him  would 
have  thought  the  dreary  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea  itself  a 
very  paradise. 

It  was  now  near  midnight,  and  there  was  an  unusual 
concourse  of  people  in  the  streets,  waiting  for  St.  Paul's 
to  give  the  signal  to  light  the  fires.  He  looked  around 
for  Ormiston  ;  but  Orraiston  was  nowhere  to  be  seen — 
horse  and  rider  had  disappeared.  I  lis  own  horse  stood 
tethered  where  he  had  left  him ;  and  anxious  as  he  was 
to  ride  back  to  the  ruin,  and  see  the  play  played  out, 
could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  lingering  a  brief  period 
in  the  city,  to  behold  the  grand  spectacle  of  the  myriad 
fires.  Many  persons  were  hurrying  toward  3t.  Paul's  to 
witness  it  from  the  dome  ;  and  consigning  his  horse  to 
the  care  of  the  sentinel  on  guard  at  the  house  opposite,  he 
joined  them,  and  was  soon  striding  along,  at  a  tremendous 
pace,  toward  the  great  cathedral.  Ere  he  reached  it,  its 
loud-tongued  clock  tolled  twelve,  and  all  the  other 
churches  one  after  another,  took  up  the  sound,  and  the 
witching  hour  of  midnight  rung  and  re-rung  from  end  to 
end  of  London  town.  As  if  by  magic,  a  thousand  forked 
tongues  of  fire  shot  up  at  once  into  the  blind,  black  night, 
turning  almost  in  an  instant  the  darkened  face  of  the 
Uc^vens  to  e^n  iiifla,nied^  ^lowin^  red.    Great  fires  were 


Hi 


106 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


[  I 


blazing  around  the  cathedral  when  they  reached  it,  but  no 
one  stopped  to  notice  them,  but  only  hurried  on  the  faster 
to  giin  their  point  of  observation.  Sir  Norman  just 
glanced  at  the  magnificent  pile— for  the  old  St.  Paul's  was 
even  more  magnificent  than  the  new,  and  then  followed 
after  the  rest,  through  many  a  gallery,  tower  and  si)iral 
staircase  till  the  dome  was  reached.  And  there  a  grand 
and  mighty  spectacle  was  before  him — the  '"diole  of  Lon- 
don swaying  and  heaving  in  one  great  sea  of  fire.  From 
one  end  to  the  other  the  city  seemed  wrapped  in  sheets 
of  flame,  and  every  street,  and  alley,  and  lane  w^ithin  it 
shone  in  a  lurid  radiance  far  brighter  than  noonday.  All 
along  the  river  fires  were  gleaming,  too ;  and  the  whole 
sky  had  turned  from  black  to  blood-red  crimson.  The 
streets  were  alive  and  swarming — it  could  scarcely  be  be- 
lieved that  the  plague-infested  city  contained  half  so  many 
people,  and  all  were  unusually  hopeful  and  animated ;  for 
it  was  popularly  believed  that  these  fires  would  effect- 
ually check  the  pestilence.  But  the  angry  flat  of  a 
Mighty  Judge  had  gone  forth,  and  the  tremendous  arm  of 
the  destroying  angel  was  not  to  be  stopped  by  the  puny 
hand  of  man.  It  has  been  said  the  weather  for  weeks 
was  unusually  brilliant,  days  of  cloudless  iunshine,  nights 
of  cloudless  moonlight,  and  the  air  was  warm  and  sultry 
enough  for  the  month  of  August  in  the  tropics.  But 
now,  while  they  looked,  a  vivid  flash  of  lightning,  from 
what  quarter  of  the  heavens  no  man  knew,  shot  athv.  .*,rt 
the  sky,  followed  by  another  and  another,  quick,  sharp 
and  blinding.  Then  one  great  drop  of  rain  fell  like 
molten  lead  on  the  pavement  then  a  second  and  a  third — 
quicker,  faster,  and  thicker,  until  down  it  rushed  in  a  per- 
fect deluge.  It  did  not  wait  to  rain ;  it  fell  in  floods — 
in  great,  slanting  sheets  of  water,  as  if  the  very  flood-gates  - 
of  heaven  had  opened  for  a  second  deluge,  ^o  one  ever 
remembered  to  have  seen  such  torrents  fall,  and  the  popu- 
lace fled  before  it  in  wildest  dismay.  In  five  minutes 
every  fire,  from  one  extremity  of  London  to  the  other, 
was  quenched  in  the  very  blackness  of  darkness,  and  on 
that  night  the  deepest  gloom  and  terror  reigned  through- 
out the  city.  It  was  clear  the  hand  of  an  avenging 
peitjr  was  iii  this,  and  He  who  ha4  rained  down  fir^  qn 


i\ 


THE  PAaE,  THE  FIRES  AND  THE  PALL.  107 


Sodom  i»nd  Gomorrah  had  not  lost  His  might.  In  fifteen 
mmutes  the  terrific  flood  was  over;  the  dismal  clouds 
cleared  away,  a  pale,  fair,  silver  moon  shone  serenely  out 
and  looked  down  on  the  black,  charred  heaps  of  ashes 
strewn  through  the  streets  of  London.  One  by  one  the 
stars,  that  all  night  had  been  obscured,  glanced  and 
sparkled  over  the  sky,  and  lit  up  with  their  soft,  p;ile 
light  the  doomed  and  stricken  town.  Everybody  had 
quitted  the  dome  in  terror  and  consternation ;  and  now 
Sir  Norman,  who  had  been  lost  in  awe,  suddenly  be- 
thought him  of  his  ride  to  the  ruin,  and  hastened  to 
follow  their  example.  Walking  rapidly,  not  to  say  reck- 
lessly, along,  he  abruptly  knocked  against  some  one 
sauntering  leisurely  before  him,  and  nearly  pitched  head- 
long on  the  pavement.  Recovering  his  center  of  gravity 
by  a  violent  effort,  he  turned  to  see  the  cause  of  the 
collision,  and  found  himself  accosted  by  a  musical  and 
foreign-accented  voice. 

«  Pardon,"  said  the  sweet,  and  rather  feminine  tones  ; 
**it  was  quite  an  accident,  I  assure  you,  monsieur.  I 
had  no  idea  I  was  in  anybody's  way." 

Sir  Norman  looked  at  the  voice,  or  rather  in  the  di- 
rection whence  it  came,  and  found  it  proceeded  from  a 
lad  in  gay  livery,  whose  clear,  colorless  face,  dark  eyes, 
and  exquisite  features,  were  by  no  means  unknown. 
The  boy  seemed  to  recognize  him  at  the  same  moment, 
and  slightly  touched  his  gay  cap. 

« Ah  I  it  is  Sir  Norman  Kingsley !  Just  the  very 
person,  but  one,  in  the  world  that  I  wanted  most  to  see." 

"  Indeed !  And,  pray,  whom  have  I  the  honor  of  ad- 
dressing ?  "  inquired  Sir  Norman,  deeply  edified  by  the 
cool  familiarity  of  the  accoster. 

«  They  call  me  Hubert — for  want  of  a  better  name,  I 
suppose,"  said  the  lad.  easily.  "  And  may  I  ask.  Sir 
Norman,  if  you  are  shod  with  seven-leagued  boots,  or 
if  your  errand  is  one  of  life  and  death,  that  you  stride 
along  at  such  a  terrific  rate  ?  " 

"  And  what  is  that  to  you  ?  "  asked  Sir  Norman,  scan- 
dalized and  indignant  at  his  free-and-easy  impudence. 

«  Nothing ;  only  I  should  like  to  keep  up  with  you,  if 
my  legs  were  long  enough ;  and  as  they're  not,  and  aa 


I 


H! 


108 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QrEEN. 


company  is  not  easily  to  be  had  in  these  forlorn  streets, 
I  should  feel  obliged  to  you  if  you  would  just  slacken 
your  pace  a  trifle,  and  take  me  in  tow." 

The  boy's  face  in  the  moonlight,  in  everything  but  ex- 
pression, was  exactly  that  of  Leoline,  to  whic\  softening 
circumstance  may  be  attributed  Sir  Norman's  yielding  to 
the  request,  and  allowing  the  page  to  keep  alongside. 

"I've  met  you  once  before  to-night?"  inquired  Sir 
Norman,  after  a  prolonged  and  wondering  stare  at  him. 

"Yes;  I  have  a  faint  recollection  of  seeing  you  and 
Mr.  Ormiston  on  London  Bridge,  a  few  hours  ago,  and, 
by  the  way,  perhaps  I  may  mention  I  am  now  iu  search 
of  that  same  Mr.  Ormiston." 

"  You  are  ?    And  what  may  you  want  of  him,  pray  ?  " 

"  Just  a  little  information  of  a  private  character — per- 
haps you  can  direct  me  to  his  whereabouts." 

"  Should  be  happy  to  oblige  you,  my  dear  boy,  but,  un^ 
fortunately  I  cannot.  I  want  to  see  him  myself,  if  I 
could  find  any  one  good  enough  to  direct  me  to  him. 
Is  your  business  pressing?  " 

"  Very — ^there  is  a  lady  in  the  case ;  and  such  busi- 
ness, you  are  aware,  is  always  pressing.  Probably  you 
have  heard  of  her — a  youthful  angel,  in  virgin  white,  who 
took  a  notion  to  jump  into  the  Thames,  not  a  great  while 
ago." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a  start  that  did  not  es- 
cape the  quick  eyes  of  the  boy.  "  And  what  do  you  want 
of  her  ?  " 

The  page  glanced  at  him. 

"  Perhaps  you  know  her  yourself,  Sir  Norman  ?  If  so, 
you  will  answer  quite  as  well  as  your  friend,  as  I  only 
want  to  know  where  she  lives." 

"  I  have  been  out  of  to^vn  to-night,"  said  Sir  Norman, 
evasively,  "  and  there  may  have  been  more  ladies  than  one 
jumped  into  the  Thames,  during  my  absence.  Pray,  de- 
scribe your  angel  in  white." 

"  I  did  not  see  her  particularly  myself,"  said  the  boy, 
with  easy  indifference,  "  as  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  pay- 
ing much  attention  to  young  ladies  who  run  wild  about 
the  streets  at  night  and  jump  promiscuously  into  rivers. 
However,  this   one  was  rather  remarkable  for  being 


THE  PAGE,  THE  FIRES  AND  THE  FALL.  109 

dressed  as  a  bride,  having  long  black  hair,  and  a  great 
quantity  of  jewelry  about  her,  and  looking  very  much 
like  me.  Having  said  she  looks  like  me,  I  need  not 
add  she  is  handsome." 

"  Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity  I  "  murmured  Sir  Nor- 
man, meditatively.  "Perhaps  she  is  a  relative  of  yours, 
Master  Hubert,  since  you  take  such  an  interest  in  her,  and 
she  looks  so  much  like  you." 

*'  Not  that  I  know  of,"  said  Hubert,  in  his  careless  way. 
"  I  believe  I  was  born  minus  those  common  domestic  af- 
flictions, relatives ;  and  I  don't  take  the  slightest  interest 
in  her,  either ;  don't  think  it !  " 

"  Then  why  are  you  in  search  of  her  ?  " 

"  For  a  very  good  reason — because  I've  been  ordered 
to  do  so." 

"  By  whom — your  mtister  ?  " 

"3Iy  Lord  Rochester,"  said  that  nobleman's  page, 
waving  off  the  insinuation  by  a  motion  of  his  hand  and 
a  little  displeased  frown  ;  "  he  picked  her  up  adrift,  and 
being  composed  of  highly  inflammable  materials,  took  a 
hot  and  vehement  fancy  for  her,  which  fact  he  did  not 
discover  until  your  friend,  Mr.  Ormiston,  had  carried 
her  off." 

Sir  Norman  scowled. 

"  And  so  he  has  set  you  in  search  of  her,  has  he  ?  '* 

"  Exactly  so ;  and  now  you  perceive  the  reason  why  it 
is  quite  important  that  I  find  Mr.  Ormiston.  We  do  not 
know  where  he  has  taken  her  to,  but  fancy  it  must  be 
somewhere  near  the  river." 

"  You  do  ?  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  my  boy,"  exclaimed 
Sir  Norman,  suddenly  and  in  an  elevated  key,  "  the  best 
thing  you  can  do  is  to  go  home  and  go  to  bed,  and  never 
mind  young  ladies.  You'll  catch  the  plague  before  you'll 
catch  this  particular  young  lady — I  can  tell  you  that ! " 

"  Monsieur  is  excited,"  lisped  the  lad,  raising  his  hat 
and  running  his  taper  fingers  through  his  glossy,  dark 
curls.  "  Is  she  as  handsome  as  they  say  she  is,  I  won- 
der?" 

"  Handsome  I "  cried  Sir  Norman,  lighting  up  with 
quite  a  new  sensation  at  the  recollection.  "  I  toll  you 
handsome  doesn't  begin  to  describe  her  I     She  is  beau- 


110 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


* 


;•( 


>: 


tiful,  lovely,  angeUc,  divine—"  Here  Sir  Norman's  litany 
of  adjectives  beginning  to  give  out,  he  came  to  a  sudden 
halt,  with  a  face  as  radiant  as  the  sky  at  sunrise. 

"  Ah !  I  did  not  believe  them,  when  they  told  me  :,he 
was  so  much  like  me ;  but  if  she  is  as  near  perfection 
as  you  describe,  I  shall  begin  to  credit  it.  Strange,  is  it 
not,  that  nature  should  make  a  duplicate  of  her  greatest 
earthly  chef  d  ceuvre  ?  " 

"You  conceited  young  jackanapes  I  "  growled  Sir  Nor- 
man, in  deep  displeasure.  "  It  is  far  stranger  how  such  a 
bundle  of  vanity  can  contrive  to  live  in  this  work-a-day 
world.    You  are  a  foreigner,  I  perceive." 

**  Yes,  Sir  Norman,  I  am  happy  to  say  I  am." 

"You  don't  like  England,  then?" 

"  I'd  be  sorry  to  like  it :  a  dirty,  beggarly,  sickly  place 
as  I  ever  saw  I  " 

Sir  Norman  eyed  the  slender  specimen  of  foreign  man- 
hood, uttering  this  sentiment  in  the  sincerest  of  tones, 
and  let  his  hand  fall  heavily  on  his  shoulder. 

"  My  good  youth,  be  careful !  I  happen  to  be  a  native, 
and  not  altogether  used  to  this  sort  of  talk.  How  long 
have  you  been  here  ?  Not  long,  I  know  myself — at  least, 
not  in  the  Earl  of  Rochester's  service,  or  I  would  have 
seen  you." 

"Right!  I  have  not  been  here  a  month;  but  that 
month  has  seemed  longer  than  a  year  elsewhere.  Do  you 
know,  I  imagine  when  the  world  was  created,  this  island 
of  yours  must  have  been  made  late  on  Saturday  night, 
and  then  merely  thrown  in  from  the  refuse  to  fill  up  a 
dent  in  the  ocean." 

Sir  Norman  paused  in  his  walk,  and  contemplated  the 
speaker  a  moment  in  severest  silence.  But  Master  Hu- 
bert only  lifted  up  his  saucy  face  and  laughing  black  eyes, 
in  dauntless  samj  froid. 

"Master  Hubert,"  began  Master  Hubert's  companion, 
in  his  deepest  and  sternest  bass,  "  I  don't  know  your  other 
name,  and  it  would  be  of  no  consequence  if  I  did — just 
listen  to  me  a  moment.  If  you  don't  want  to  get  run 
through  (you  perceive  I  carry  a  sword),  and  have  an  un- 
timely end  put  to  your  career,  just  keep  a  civil  tongue  in 
your  head,  and  don't  slander  England.    Now  come  on," 


THE  PA^K,  tnt  PIRES  AND  THE  FALL.  Ill 

Hubert  laughed  and  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Thought  is  free,  however,  so  I  can  have  my  own  opin- 
ion mature  cela.  Will  you  tell  me,  r^'^nsieur,  where  I  can 
find  the  lady  ?  " 

"  You  will  have  it,  will  you  ?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman, 
half  drawing  his  sword.  "  Don't  ask  questions,  but  an- 
swer them.    Are  you  French  ?  " 

"Monsieur  has  guessed  it." 

"  How  long  have  you  been  with  your  present  master  ?  " 

"  Monsieur,  I  object  to  that  term,"  said  Hubert  with 
calm  dignity.  "  Master  is  a  vulgarism  that  I  dislike ;  so, 
in  alluding  to  his  lordship,  take  the  trouble  to  say  patron." 

Sir  Norman  laughed. 

«  With  all  my  heart !  How  long,  then,  have  you  been 
with  your  present  patron  ?  " 

"Not  quite  two  weeks." 

"  I  do  not  like  to  be  impertinently  inquisitive  in  ad- 
dressing so  dignified  a  gentleman,  but  perhaps  you  would 
not  consider  it  too  great  a  liberty  if  I  inquired  how  you 
became  his  page  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  shall  ask  as  many  questions  as  he  pleases, 
and  it  shall  not  be  considered  the  slightest  liberty,"  said 
the  young  gentleman,  politely.  "  I  had  been  roaming  at 
large  about  the  city  and  his  majesty's  palace — whom  may 
the  good  God  preserve  and  grant  a  little  more  wisdom ! 
— ^in  search  of  a  situation ;  and  among  that  of  all  the  no- 
bles of  the  court,  the  Earl  of  Rochester's  livery  struck  me 
as  being  the  most  becoming,  and  so  I  concluded  to  patron- 
ize him. ' 

"  What  an  honor  for  his  lordship !  Since  you  dislike 
England  so  much,  however,  you  will  probably  soon  throw 
up  the  situation  and  patronize  the  first  foreign  ambas- 
sador  " 

"Perhaps I  I  rather  like  Whitehall,  however.  Old 
Rowlie  has  taken  rather  a  fancy  to  me,"  said  the  boy, 
speaking  with  the  same  easy  familiarity  of  his  majesty  as 
he  would  of  a  lapdog.  "  And  what  is  better,  so  has  Mis- 
tress Stewart — so  much  so,  that  God  forefend  the  king 
should  become  jealous.  This,  however,  is  strictly  entre 
no'-'.t,  011,1  not  to  be  spoken  of  on  any  terms." 

"  Vuur  secret  shall  be  preserved  at  the  risk  of  my 


112 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


life,"  said  Sir  Norman,  laying  his  hand  on  the  left  side 
of  his  doublet ;  "  and  in  return,  may  I  ask  if  you  have 
any  relatives  living — any  sisters,  for  instance  ?  " 

"I  see!  you  have  suspicion  that  the  lady  in  white 
may  be  a  sister  of  mine.  Well,  you  may  set  your  mind 
at  rest  on  that  point — for  if  she  is,  it  is  news  to  me, 
as  I  never  saw  her  in  my  life  before  to-night.  Is  she 
a  particular  friend  of  yours.  Sir  Norman  ?  " 

"  Never  you  mind  that,  my  dear  boy  ;  but  take  my  ad- 
vice, and  don't  trouble  yourself  looking  for  her ;  for, 
most  assuredly,  if  you  find  her,  T  shall  break  your  head  I  " 

"  Much  obliged ! "  said  Hubert,  touching  his  cap,  "  but 
nevertheless,  I  shall  risk  it.  She  had  the  plague,  though, 
when  she  jumped  into  the  river,  and  perhaps  the  best 
place  to  find  her  would  be  the  pest-house.     I  shall  try." 

"  Go,  and  God  speed  you !  Yonder  is  the  way  to  it, 
and  my  road  lies  here.    Good-night,  master  Hubert." 

"  Good-night,  Sir  Norman,"  responded  the  page,  bowing 
airily ;  "  and  if  I  do  not  find  the  lady  to-night,  most  as- 
suredly I  shall  do  so  to-morrow." 

Turning  along  a  road  leading  to  the  pest-house,  and 
laughing  as  he  went,  the  boy  disappeared.  Fearing  lest 
the  page  should  follow  him,  and  thereby  discover  a  clue 
to  Leoline's  abode,  Sir  Norman  turned  into  a  street  some 
distance  from  the  house,  and  waited  in  the  shadow  until 
he  was  out  of  sight.  Then  he  came  forth,  and,  full  of 
impatience  to  get  back  to  the  ruin,  hurried  on  to  where 
he  had  left  his  horse.  He  was  still  in  the  care  of  the 
watchman,  whom  he  repaid  for  his  trouble;  and  as  he 
sprung  on  his  back,  he  glanced  up  at  the  windows  of 
Leoline's  house.  It  was  all  buried  in  profound  dark- 
ness but  that  one  window  from  which  that  faint  light 
streamed,  and  he  knew  that  she  had  not  yet  gone  to 
rest.  For  a  moment  he  lingered  and  looked  at  it  in 
the  absurd  way  lovers  will  look,  and  was  presently  re- 
warded by  seeing  what  he  watched  for — a  shadow  flit 
between  him  and  the  light.  The  sight  was  a  strong 
temptation  to  him  to  dismount  and  enter,  and,  under  pre- 
tense of  warning  her  against  the  Earl  of  Rochester  and 
his  "pretty  page,"  see  her  once  again.  But  reflection, 
Stepping  rebukingly  up  to  him,  whispered  indignantly, 


THE  PAGE,  THE  FIRES  AND    THE  FALL  118 


1 


J 


i      V 


that  his  lady-love  was  probably  by  this  time  en  sac  de 
nuit,  and  not  at  home  to  lovers ;  and  Sir  Norman  respect- 
fully bowed  to  reflection's  superior  wisdom.  He  thought 
of  Hubert's  words,  "  If  I  do  not  find  her  to-night,  I  shall 
most  assuredly  to-morrow,"  and  a  chill  presentiment  of 
coming  evil  fell  upon  him. 

"  To-morrow,"  he  said,  as  he  turned  to  go.  "  Who  knows 
what  to-morrow  may  bring  forth  ?  Fairest  and  dearest 
Leoline,  good-night ! " 

He  rode  away  in  the  moonlight,  with  the  stars  shining 
peacefully,  down  upon  him.  His  heart  at  the  moment  was 
a  divided  one  — one  half  being  given  to  Leoline,  and  the 
other  to  the  Midnight  Queen  and  her  mysterious  court. 
The  further  he  went  away  from  Leoline,  the  dimmer  her 
star  became  in  the  horizon  of  his  thoughts ;  and  the  nearer 
he  came  to  Miranda,  the  brighter  and  more  eagerly  she 
loomed  np,  until  he  spurred  his  horse  to  a  most  furious 
gallop,  lest  he  should  find  the  castle  and  the  queen  lost 
in  the  regions  of  space  when  he  got  there.  Once  the 
plague-stricken  city  lay  behind  him,  his  journey  was 
short;  and  soon,  to  his  great  delight,  the  rattle  of  the 
dead-cart  and  the  ominous  call,  "  Bring  out  your  dead  I 
Bring  out  your  dead ! "  were  left  behind,  and  he  turned 
into  the  silent,  deserted  by-path  leading  to  the  ruin. 
Tying  his  horse  to  a  stake  in  the  crumbling  wall,  he 
paused  for  a  moment  to  look  at  it  in  the  pale,  wan  light 
of  the  midnight  moon.  He  had  looked  at  it  many  a 
time  before,  but  never  with  the  same  interest  as  now ;  and 
the  ruined  battlements,  the  fallen  roof,  the  broken  win- 
dows, and  moldering  sides,  had  all  a  new  and  weird  in- 
terest for  him.  No  one  was  visible  far  or  near ;  and  feel- 
ing that  his  horse  was  secure  in  the  shadow  of  the  wall, 
he  entered,  and  walked  lightly  and  rapidly  along  in  the 
direction  of  the  spiral  staircase.  With  more  haste,  but 
the  same  precaution,  he  descended,  and  passed  through 
the  vaults  to  where  he  knew  the  loose  flag-stone  was.  It 
was  well  he  did  know ;  for  there  was  neither  strain  of 
music  nor  ray  of  light  to  guide  him  now  ;  and  his  heart 
sank  down  to  zero  as  he  thought  he  might  raise  the  stone 
and  discover  nothing.  His  hand  positively  trembled 
with  eagerness   as  he  lifted  it;  and   with   unbounded 


114 


TfiE  MIDNIGHT  QtEEK. 


. 


delight,  not  to  be  described,  looked  down  on  the  same  titled 
assembly  he  had  -watched  before.  But  there  had  been  a 
chiiuge  since — half  the  lights  were  extinguished,  and  the 
great  viiulted  room  was  comparatively  in  shadow — the 
music  bad  entirely  died  away,  and  all  was  solemnly  silent. 
But  wliat  puzzled  Sir  Norman  most  of  all  was,  the  fact 
that  there  seemed  to  be  a  trial  of  some  sort  going  on. 

A  long  tiible,  covered  with  green  velvet,  and  looking 
not  unlike  a  modern  billiard-table,  stood  at  the  right  of 
the  queen's  crimson  throne ;  and  behind  it,  perched  in  a 
high  chair,  and  wearing  a  long,  solemn  black  robe,  sat  a 
small  thick  personage,  whose  skin  Sir  Norman  would 
have  known  on  a  bush.  He  glanced  at  the  lower  throne 
and  found  it  as  he  expected,  empty ;  and  he  saw  at  once 
that  his  little  highness  was  not  only  prince  consort,  but 
also  supreme  judge  in  the  kingdom.  Two  or  three  simi- 
lar black-robed  gentry,  among  whom  was  recognizable 
the  noble  duke  who  so  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life 
under  the  swords  of  Sir  Norman  and  Count  L'Estrange. 
Before  this  solemn  conclave  stood  a  man  who  was  evi- 
dently the  prisoner  under  trial,  and  who  wore  the  whitest 
and  most  frightened  face  Sir  Norman  thought  he  had  ever 
beheld.  The  queen  was  lounging  negligently  back  in  her 
throne,  paying  very  little  attention  to  the  solemn  rites, 
occasionally  gossiping  \vith  some  of  the  snow-white  sylphs 
beside  hav,  and  often  yawning  behind  her  pretty  finger- 
tips, and  evidently  very  much  bored  by  it  all. 

The  rest  of  the  company  were  decorously  seated  in  the 
crimson  and  gilded  arm-chairs ;  some  listening  with  in- 
terest to  what  was  going  on,  others  holding  whispered 
't!'.-d'tetes^  and  all  very  still  and  respectful.  Sir  Nor- 
,:  ii's  interest  war  aroused  to  the  highest  pitch ;  he  im- 
prudently leaned  forward  too  far,  in  order  to  hear  and 
see,  and  lost  his  balance.  He  felt  he  was  going,  and  tried 
to  stop  himself,  but  in  vain ;  and  seeing  there  was  no  help 
for  it,  he  made  a  sudden  spring,  and  landed  right  in  the 
midst  of  the  assembly. 


THE  EXECUTION. 


115 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE    EXECUTION. 


In  an  instant  all  was  confusion.  EveryV)ody  sprung  to 
their  feet — ladies  shrieked  in  chorus,  gentlemen  swore  jnd 
drew  their  swords,  and  looked  to  see  if  they  might  not  tx- 
pect  a  whole  army  to  drop  from  the  sky  upon  them,  as  tliey 
stood.  No  other  battalion,  however,  followed  this  forlorn 
hope ;  and,  seeing  it,  the  gentlemen  took  heart  of  grace 
and  closed  around  the  unceremonious  intruder.  The 
queen  had  sprung  from  her  royal  seat,  and  stood  with  her 
bright  lips  parted,  and  her  brighter  eyes  dilating  in 
speechless  wonder.  The  bench,  with  the  judge  at  their 
head,  had  followed  her  example,  and  stood  staring  with 
all  their  might,  looking,  truth  to  tell,  as  much  startled  by 
the  sudden  apparition  as  the  fair  sex.  The  said  fair  sex 
were  still  firing  ofl:  little  volleys  of  screams  in  chorus,  and 
clinging  desperately  to  their  cavaliers ;  and  everything, 
in  a  word,  was  in  most  admired  disorder.  Tam  O'Shan- 
ter's  cry  of  "  Weel  done,  cutty  sark ! "  could  not  have 
produced  half  such  a  commotion  among  his  "helMsh 
legion "  as  the  emphatic  debut  of  Sir  Norman  Kingsley 
among  these  human  revelers.  The  only  one  who  seemed 
rather  to  enjoy  it  than  otherwise  was  the  prisoner,  who 
was  quietly  and  quickly  making  off,  when  the  malevolent 
and  irrepressible  dwarf  espied  him,  and  the  one  shock 
acting  as  a  counter-irritant  to  the  other,  he  bounced 
fleetly  over  the  table,  and  grabbed  him  in  his  crab-like 
claws. 

This  brisk  and  laudable  instance  of  self-command  had 
a  wonderful  and  inspiriting  effect  on  the  rest ;  and  as  he 
replaced  the  pale  and  palsied  prisoner  in  his  former  posi- 
tion, giving  him  a  vindictive  shake  and  vicious  kick  with 
his  royal  boots  as  he  did  so,  everybody  began  to  feel  them- 


mgi 


116 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


1 1 


selves  again.  The  ladies  stopped  screaming,  the  gentle- 
men ceased  swearing,  and  more  than  one  exclamation  of 
astonishment  followed  the  cries  of  terror. 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  I  "  rang 
from  lip  to  lip  of  those  who  recognized  him ;  and  all  drew 
closer,  and  Icxiked  at  him  as  if  they  really  could  not  make 
up  their  mind  to  l)clieve  their  eyes.  As  for  Sir  Norman 
himself,  that  gentleman  was  destined  literally,  if  not 
metaphorically,  to  fall  on  his  legs  that  night,  and  had 
alighted  on  the  crimson  velvet  carpet,  cat-like,  on  his 
feet.  In  reference  to  his  feelings — his  first  was  one  of 
frantic  disapproval  of  going  down  ;  his  second  one  of  in- 
tense astonishment  at  findmg  himself  there  with  un- 
broken bones ;  his  third,  a  disagreeable  conviction  that  he 
had  about  put  bis  foot  in  it,  and  was  in  an  excessively  bad 
fix ;  and  last,  but  iiot  least,  a  firm  and  rooted  determi- 
nation to  make  the  best  of  a  bad  bargain,  and  never  say 
die.  His  first  act  was  to  take  off  his  plumed  hat,  and 
make  a  profound  obeisance  to  her  majesty  the  queen,  who 
was  altogether  too  nmch  surprised  to  make  the  return 
politeness  demanded,  and  merely  stared  at  him  with  her 
great,  beautiful,  brilliant  eyes,  as  if  she  would  never  have 
done. 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen ! "  said  Sir  Norman,  turning 
gracefully  to  the  company  ;  "T  1)cg  ten  thousand  pardons 
for  this  unwarrantable  intiiuroii,  rjid  promise  you,  upon 
my  honor,  never  to  do  it  again.  I  beg  to  assure  you  that 
my  coming  here  was  altogether  involuntary  on  my  part, 
and  forced  by  circunistiaices  over  which  I  had  no  control; 
and  X  entreat  you  will  not  mind  mc  in  the  least,  but  go  on 
with  the  proceedings  just  as  you  did  before.  Should  you 
feel  my  presence  here  any  restraint,  I  am  quite  ready  and 
willing  to  take  my  departure  at  any  moment ;  and,  as  I 
before  insinuated,  will  promise,  on  the  honor  of  a  gentle- 
man and  a  knight,  never  again  to  take  the  iibcaty  of  tum- 
bling through  the   ceiling  down  on  your  lieiids. 

This  reference  to  tlie  coiling  seemed  to  explain  the 
whole  mystery  ;  and  everybody  looked  up  iu  (he  corner 
whence  he  came  from,  an  I  saw  the  flag  t-iat  had  been 
removed.  As  to  his  speech,  everybody  had  listened  to  it 
with  tile  (greatest  of  attention ;  and  sundry  oi'  the  ladies 


THE  EXECUTION. 


117 


convinced  by  this  time  that  he  was  flesh  and  blood,  and 
no  ghost,  favored  the  handsome  young  knight  with  divers 
glances,  not  at  all  displeased  or  unadmiring.  The  queen 
sunk  back  into  her  seat,  keeping  him  still  transfixed  with 
her  darkly-splendid  eyes ;  and  whether  she  admired  or 
otherwise,  no  one  could  tell  from  her  still,  calm  face.  The 
prince-consort's  feelings — for  such  there  could  be  no  doubt 
he  was — were  involved  in  no  such  mystery  ;  and  he  broke 
out  into  a  hyena-like  scream  of  laughter,  as  he  recognized, 
upon  a  second  look, his  young  friend  of  the  "Golden 
Crown." 

"  So  you  have  come,  have  you  ?  "  he  cried  thrusting  his 
unlovely  visage  over  the  table,  till  it  almost  touched  Sir 
Norman's.     You  have  come,  have  you,  after  all  I  said  ?  " 

**  Yes,  sir,  I  have  come ! "  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a 
polite  bow. 

"  Perhaps  you  don't  know  me,  my  dear  young  sir — your 
little  friend,  you  know,  of  the  *  Golden  Crown. ' " 

"  Oh,  I  perfectly  recognize  you  I  My  little  friend," 
said  Sir  Norman,  with  bland  suavity,  and  unconsciously 
quoting  Leoline,  "  once  seen  is  not  easy  to  be  forgotten." 

Upon  this,  his  highness  set  up  such  another  screech  of 
mirth  that  it  quite  woke  an  echo  through  the  room ;  and 
all  Sir  Norman's  friends  looked  grave  ;  for  when  his  high- 
ness laughed,  it  was  a  very  bad  sign. 

"My  little  friend  will  hurt  himself,"  remarked  Sir 
Norman,  with  an  air  of  solicitude,  "  if  he  indulges  in  his 
exuberant  and  gleeful  spirits  to  such  an  extent.  Let  me 
recommend  you,  as  a  well-wisher,  to  sit  down  and  compose 
yourself." 

Instead  of  complying,  however,  the  prince,  who  seemed 
blessed  with  a  lively  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  was  so  struck 
with  the  extreme  funniness  of  the  young  man's  speech, 
that  he  relaxed  into  another  paroxysm  of  levity,  shriller 
and  more  unearthly,  if  possible,  than  any  preceding  one 
and  which  left  him  so  exhausted,  that  he  was  forced  to 
sink  into  his  chair  and  into  silence  through  sheer  fatigue. 
Seizing  this,  the  first  opportunity,  Miranda,  with  a  glance 
of  displeased  dignity  at  Caliban,  immediately  struck  in : 

"  Who  are  you,  sir,  and  by  what  right  do  you  dare  to 
come  here  ?  " 


t. ,  . 


118 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


'\  •  i\ 


I 


iM 
I  i  > 


Her  tone  was  neither  very  sweet  nor  suave  ;  but  it  was 
much  pleasanter  to  be  cross-examined  by  the  owner  of 
such  a  pretty  face  than  by  the  ugly  little  monster,  for 
the  moment  gasping  and  extinguished ;  and  Sir  Norman 
turned  to  her  with  alacrity  and  a  bow. 

"  Madam,  I  am  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  very  much  at  your 
service  ;  and  I  beg  to  assure  you  I  did  not  come  here,  but 
fell  here,  through  that  hole,  if  you  perceive,  and  very 
much  against  my  will." 

"  Equivocations  will  not  serve  you  in  this  case,  sir,"  said 
the  queen,  with  an  austere  dignity.  "  And,  allow  me  to 
observe,  it  is  just  probable  you  would  not  have  fallen 
through  that  hole  in  our  royal  ceiling  if  you  had  kept 
away  from  it.    You  raised  that  flag  yourself,  did  you  not  ?  " 

"  Madam,  I  fear  I  must  say  yes  I  " 

"  And  why  did  you  do  so  ?  "  demanded  her  majesty, 
with  far  more  sharp  asperity  than  Sir  Norman  dreamed 
could  ever  come  from  such  beautiful  lips. 

"  The  rumor  of  Queen  Miranda's  charms  has  gone  forth ; 
and  I  fear  I  must  o^vn  that  rumor  drew  me  hither,"  re- 
sponded Sir  Norman,  inventing  a  polite  little  work  of  fic- 
tion for  the  occasion ;  "  and,  let  me  add,  that  I  came  to 
find  thnt  rumor  had  underrated  instead  of  exaggerating 
her  majesty's  said  charms." 

Here  Sir  Norman,  whose  spine  seemed  in  danger  of  bt». 
coming  the  shape  of  a  rainbow,  in  excess  of  good  breeding 
made  another  genuflection  before  the  queen,  with  his  hand 
over  the  region  of  his  heart.  Miranda  tried  to  look  grave 
and  wear  that  expression  of  severe  solemnity  I  am  told 
queens  and  rich  people  always  do ;  but,  in  spite  of  herself 
a  little  pleased  smile  rippled  over  her  face  ;  and,  noticing 
>  it,  and  the  bow  and  speech,  the  prince  suddenly  and 
sharply  set  up  such  another  screech  of  laughter  as  no 
steamboat  or  locomotive,  in  the  present  age  of  steam  could 
begin  to  equal  in  ghastliness. 

"  Will  your  highness  have  the  goodness  to  hold  your 
tongue  ?  "  inquired  the  queen,  with  much  the  air  and  look 
of  Mrs.  Caudle,  "  and  allow  me  to  ask  this  stranger  a  few 
questions  uninterrupted?  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  how 
long  have  you  been  above  there,  listening  and  looking 


THE  EXECUTION. 


119 


«*  Madam,  I  was  not  there  five  minutes  when  I  suddenly, 
and  to  my  great  surprise,  found  myself  here." 

"  A  lie ! — ^a  lie  I  "  exclaimed  the  dwarf,  furiously.  "  It 
is  over  two  hours  since  I  met  you  at  the  bar  of  the  *  Golden 
Crown.' " 

**  My  dear  little  friend,"  said  Sir  Norman,  drawing  his 
sword,  and  flourishing  it  within  an  inch  of  the  royal  nose, 
"  just  make  that  remark  again,  and  my  sword  will  cleave 
your  pretty  head,  as  the  cimetar  of  Saladin  clove  the 
cushion  of  down !  I  earnestly  assure  you,  madam,  that  I 
had  but  just  knelt  down  to  look,  when  I  discovered  to  niy 
dismay,  that  I  was  no  longer  there,  but  in  your  charming 
presence." 

"  In  that  case,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,"  said  tlie  queen, 
glancing  blandly  round  the  apartment,  "  he  has  witnessed 
nothing,  and,  therefore,  merits  but  slight  piuiishnient." 

**  Permit  me,  your  majesty,"  said  the  duke,  who  had 
read  the  roll  de  mort^  and  who  had  been  eying  Sir 
Norman  sharply  for  some  time,  "permit  me  one  moment! 
This  is  the  very  individual  who  slew  the  Earl  of  Ashley, 
while  his  companion  was  doing  for  my  Lord  Craven.  Sir 
Norman  Kingsley,"  said  his  grace,  turning  with  awful  im- 
pressivenes':  to  that  young  person,  "  do  you  know  me  ?  " 

"  Quite  as  well  as  I  wish  to,"  answered  Sir  Norman, 
with  a  cool  and  rather  contemptuous  glance  in  his  direc- 
tion. "  You  look  extremely  like  a  certain  highwayman, 
with  a  most  villainous  countenance,  I  encountored  a  few 
hours  back,  and  whom  I  would  have  made  mince-meat  of 
if  he  had  not  been  coward  enough  to  fly.  Probably  you 
may  be  the  same ;  you  look  fit  for  that,  or  anything  else?." 

"  Cut  him  down.  "  Dash  his  brains  out ! "  "  Run  him 
through  I "  "  Shoot  him !  "  were  a  few  of  the  mild  and 
pleasant  insimiations  that  went  off  on  every  side  of  him, 
like  a  fierce  volley  of  pop-guns ;  and  a  score  of  bright 
blades  flashed  blue  and  threatening  on  every  side  ;  while 
the  prince  broke  out  into  another  shriek  of  laughter,  that 
rung  high  over  all.  Sir  Norman  drew  his  own  sword,  and 
stood  on  the  defense,  breathed  one  thought  to  Leoline, 
gave  himself  up  for  lost;  but  before  quite  doing  so — to 
use  a  phrase  not  altogether  as  original  as  it  might  be — 


"  act 


Xo  pJJ  ji.JiC. 


An^rr^ 


120 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


eyes  and  fierce  faces  were  on  every  hand,  and  his  dreams 
of  matrimony  and  Leoline  seemed  about  to  terminate  then 
and  there,  when  luck  came  to  his  aid,  in  the  shape  of  her 
most  gracious  majesty  the  queen.  Springing  to  her  feet, 
she  waved  her  scepter ;  while  her  black  eyes  flashed  as 
fiercely  as  the  best  of  them,  and  her  voice  rung  out  like  a 
trumpel^tone : 

"  Sheathe  your  swords,  my  lords,  and  back  every  m;ii' 
of  you  1  Not  one  hair  of  his  head  shall  fall  without  iny 
permission ;  and  the  first  who  lays  hands  on  him  until 
that  consent  is  given,  shall  die,  if  I  have  to  shoot  him  my- 
self !  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  stand  near,  and  fear  not. 
At  their  peril,  let  one  of  them  touch  you ! " 

Sir  Norman  bent  on  one  knee,  and  raised  the  gracious 
hand  to  his  lips.  At  the  fierce,  ringing,  imperious  tone, 
all  involuntarily  fell  back,  as  if  they  were  accustomed  to 
obey  it ;  and  the  prince,  who  seemed  to-night  in  an  un- 
commonly facetious  mood,  laughed  again,  long  and  shrill. 

"  What  are  your  majesty's  commands  ?  "  asked  the  dis- 
comfited duke,  rather  sulkily.  "  Is  this  insulting  inter- 
loper to  go  free  ?  " 

"  That  is  no  affair  of  yours,  my  lord  duke  ! "  answered 
the  spirited,  not  to  say  fierce  voice,  of  the  queen.  "  Be 
good  enough  to  finish  Lord  Gloucester's  trial ;  and  until 
then  I  will  be  responsible  for  the  safe-keeping  of  Sir 
Norman  Kingsley." 

"  And  after  that,  he  is  to  go  free — eh,  your  majesty  ?  " 
said  the  dwarf,  laughing  to  that  extent  that  he  ran  the 
risk  of  rupturing  an  artery. 

"  After  that,  it  shall  be  precisely  as  I  please !  "  replied 
the  ringing  voice  ;  while  the  black  eyes  flashed  anything 
but  loving  glances  upon  him.  "  While  I  am  queen  here, 
I  shall  be  obeyed ;  when  I  am  queen  no  longer,  you  may 
do  as  you  please !  My  lords,"  (turning  her  passionate, 
beautiful  face  to  the  hushed  audience),  "am  I  or  ami  not 
sovereign  here  ?  " 

"  Madam,  you  alone  are  our  sovereign  lady  and  queen !  '* 

«  Then,  when  I  condescend  to  command,  you  shall  obey ! 
Do  you,  your  highness,  and  you,  lord  duke,  go  on  with  the 
Earl  of  Gloucester's  trial,  and  I  will  be  the  stranger's 
jailer" 


THE  EXECUTION. 


121 


I 


**  She  is  right,"  said  the  dwarf,  his  fierce  little  eyes 
gleaming  with  a  malignant  light ;  "  let  us  do  one  thing  be- 
fore another ;  and  after  we  have  settled  Gloucester,  here, 
we  will  attend  to  this  man's  case.  Guards,  keep  a  sharp 
eye  on  your  new  prisoner.  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  be  good 
enough  to  resume  your  seats.  Now,  your  grace,  continue 
the  trial." 

*'  Where  did  we  leave  off  ?  "  inquired  his  grace,  looking 
rather  at  a  loss,  and  scowling  vengeance  dire  at  the  hand- 
some queen  and  her  handsome  protege,  as  he  sunk  back 
in  his  chair  of  state. 

"  The  earl  was  confessing  his  guilt,  or  about  to  do  so. 
Pray,  my  lord,"  said  the  dwarf,  glaring  upon  the  pallid 
prisoner,  "  were  you  not  saying  you  had  betrayed  us  to 
the  king?" 

A  breathless  silence  followed  the  question — everybody 
seemed  to  hold  their  very  breath  to  listen.  Even  the 
queen  leaned  forward  and  awaited  the  answer  eagerly,  and 
the  many  eyes  that  had  been  riveted  on  Sir  Norman  since 
his  entree  left  him  now  for  the  first  time  and  settled  on 
the  prisoner.  A  piteous  spectacle  that  prisoner  was — his 
face  whiter  than  the  snowy  nymphs  behind  the  throne, 
and  so  distorted  with  fear,  fury  and  guilt,  that  it  looked 
scarcely  human.  Twice  he  opened  his  eyes  to  reply,  and 
twice  all  sounds  died  away  in  a  choking  gasp. 

"  Do  you  hear  his  highness  ?  "  sharply  inquired  the  lord 
high  chancellor,  reaching  over  the  great  seal,  and  giving 
the  unhappy  Earl  of  Gloucester  a  rap  on  the  head  with  it. 
**  Why  do  you  not  answer  ?  " 

"Pardon!  pardon  1"  exclaimed  the  earl,  in  a  husky 
whisper.  "  Do  not  believe  the  tales  they  tell  you  of  me. 
For  God's  sake,  spare  my  life  1 " 

"Confess!"  thundered  the  dwarf,  striking  the  table 
with  his  clenched  fist,  until  all  the  papers  thereon  jumped 
spasmodically  into  the  air — "  confess  at  once,  or  I  shall 
run  you  through  where  you  stand  ! " 

The  earl,  with  a  perfect  screech  of  terror,  flung  himself 
flat  upon  his  face  and  liands  before  the  queen^  with  such 
force,  that  Sir  Norman  expected  to  see  hi§  countenaae^ 
make  a  hole  \i\  tlig  fiqoji^ 


122 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


**  Oh,  madam !  spare  me !  spare  me !  spare  me  I  Rave 
mercy  on  me  as  you  hope  for  mercy  yourself ! " 

She  recoiled,  and  drew  back  her  very  garments  from 
his  touch,  as  if  that  touch  was  pollution,  eying  him  tlie 
while  with  a  glance  frigid  and  pitiless  as  death. 

**  There  is  no  mercy  for  traitors ! "  she  coldly  said. 
"  Confess  your  guilt,  and  expect  no  pardon  from  me !  " 

**  Lift  him  up ! "  shouted  the  dwarf,  clawing  the  air  with 
his  hands,  as  if  he  could  have  clawed  the  heart  out  of  liis 
victim's  body ;  "  back  with  him  to  his  place,  guards,  and 
see  that  he  does  not  leave  it  again  I  " 

Squirming,  and  writhing,  and  twisting  himself  in  their 
grasp,  in  a  very  uncomfortable  and  eel-like  fashion,  the 
earl  was  dragged  back  to  his  place,  and  forcibly  held  there 
by  two  of  the  guards,  while  his  face  grew  so  ghastly  and 
convulsed  that  Sir  Norman  turned  away  his  head,  and 
could  not  bear  to  look  at  it. 

**  Confess ! "  once  more  yelled  the  dwarf,  in  a  terrible 
voice,  while  his  still  more  terrible  eyes  literally  flashed 
sparks  of  fire — "  confess,  or  by  all  that's  sacred  it  shall  be 
tortured  out  of  you.  Guards,  bring  me  the  thumb-screws, 
and  let  us  see  if  they  will  not  exorcise  the  dumb  devil  by 
which  our  ghastly  friend  is  possessed  ! " 

"  No,  no,  no  I  "  shrieked  the  earl,  while  the  foam  flew 
from  his  lips.    "  I  confess !  I  confess  I  I  confess  I " 

"Good!  And  what  do  you  confess?"  said  the  duke, 
blandly,  leaning  forward,  while  the  dwarf  fell  back  with 
a  yell  of  laughter  at  the  success  of  his  ruse. 

"  I  confess  all — everything — anything !  only  spare  my 
life!" 

**Do  you  confess  to  having  told  Charles,  King  of  Eng- 
land, the  secrets  of  our  kingdom  and  this  place  ?  "  said  the 
duke,  sternly,  rapping  down  the  petition,  with  a  roll  ot 
parchment. 

The  earl  grew,  if  possible,  more  ghastly  white. 

"  I  do — I  must !  but  oh  I  for  the  love  of — " 

«  Never  mind  love,"  cut  in  the  inexorable  duke,  "  it  is 
a  subject  that  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  present 
case.  Did  you  or  did  you  not  receive  for  the  aforesaid 
information  a  large  sum  of  money  ?  " 

*«  I  did  J  but,  my  lord,  my  lord,  spare — " 


THE  EXECITTIOK 


128 


**  Which  sum  of  money  you  have  concealed,"  continued 
the  duke,  with  another  frown  and  a  sharp  rap.  "  Now 
the  question  is,  where  have  you  concealed  it  ?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  with  all  my  heart,  only  spare  my  life  I " 

"  Tell  us  first,  and  we  will  think  about  your  life  after- 
ward. Let  me  advise  you  as  a  friend,  my  lord,  to  tell  at 
once,  and  truthfully,"  said  the  duke,  toying  negligently 
with  the  thumb-screws. 

"  It  is  buried  at  the  north  corner  of  the  old  wall  at  the 
head  of  Bradshaw's  grave.  You  shall  have  that  and  a 
thousandfold  more  if  you'll  only  pardon — " 

"  Enough !  "  broke  in  the  dwarf,  with  the  look  and  tone 
of  an  exultant  demon.  "  That  is  all  we  want.  My  lord 
duke,  give  me  the  death-warrant,  and  while  her  majesty 
signs  it,  I  will  pronounce  his  doom  ! " 

The  duke  handed  him  a  roll  of  parchment,  which  he 
glanced  critically  over,  and  handed  to  the  queen  for  her 
autograph.  That  royal  lady  spread  the  vellum  on  her 
knee,  took  the  pen  and  affixed  her  signature  as  coolly  as 
if  she  were  inditing  a  sonnet  in  an  album.  Then  his  high- 
ness, with  a  face  that  fairly  scintillated  with  demoniac  de- 
light, stood  up  and  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  ghastly  prisoner, 
and  spoke  in  a  voice  that  reverberated  like  the  tolling  of 
a  death-bell  through  the  room : 

"  My  Lord  of  Gloucester,  youVe  been  tried  by  a  council 
of  your  fellow-peers,  presided  over  by  her  royal  self,  and 
found  guilty  of  high  treason.  Your  sentence  is  that  you 
be  taken  hence,  immediately,  to  the  block,  and  there  be 
beheaded,  in  punishment  of  your  crime." 

His  highness  wound  up  this  somewhat  solemn  speech, 
rather  inconsistently,  by  bursting  out  into  one  of  his 
shrillest  peals  of  laughter;  and  the  miserable  Earl  of 
Gloucester,  with  a  gasping,  unearthly  yell,  fell  back  in  the 
arms  of  the  attendants.  Dead  and  oppressive  silence 
reigned ;  and  Sir  Norman,  who  half  believed  all  along  the 
whole  thing  was  a  farce,  began  to  feel  an  uncomfortable 
sense  of  clill  creeping  over  him,  and  to  think  that,  though 
practical  jokes  were  excellent  things  in  their  way,  there 
was  yet  a  possibility  of  carrying  them  a  little  too  far. 
The  disagreeable  silence  was  first  broken  by  the  dwarf, 
who,  after  gloating  for  a  moment  over  his  victim's  coa« 


!■; 


124 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


vulsive  spasms,  sprung  nimbly  from  his  chair  of  dignity 
and  held  out  his  arm  for  the  queen.  The  queen  arose, 
which  seemed  to  be  a  signal  for  everybody  else  to  do  the 
same,  and  all  began  forming  themselves  in  a  sort  of  line 
of  march. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  with  this  other  prisoner,  your  high- 
ness ?  "  inquired  the  duke,  making  a  poke  with  his  fore- 
finger at  Sir  Norman.  "  Is  he  to  stay  here,  or  is  he  to 
accompany  us  ?  " 

His  highness  turned  round,  and  putting  his  face  close 
up  to  Sir  Norman's,  favored  him  with  a  malignant  grin. 

"You'd  like  to  come,  wouldn't  you,  my  dear  young 
friend?" 

"  Really,"  said  Sir  Norman,  drawing  back  and  return- 
ing the  dwarf's  stare  with  compound  interest,  "  that  de- 
pends altogether  on  the  nature  of  the  entertainment ;  but, 
at  the  same  time,  I'm  much  obliged  to  you  for  consulting 
my  inclinations." 

This  reply  nearly  overset  his  highness'  gravity  once 
more,  but  he  checked  his  mirth  after  the  first  irrepressible 
squeal ;  and  finding  the  company  were  all  arranged  in  the 
order  of  going,  and  awaiting  his  sovereign  pleasure,  he 
turned. 

"  Let  him  come,"  he  said,  with  his  countenance  still  dis- 
torted by  inward  merriment ;  "  it  will  do  him  good  to  see 
how  we  punish  oifenders  here,  and  teach  him  what  he  is 
to  expect  himself.    Is  your  majesty  ready  ?  " 

**  My  majesty  has  been  ready  and  waiting  for  the  last 
five  minutes,"  replied  the  lady,  overlooking  his  proffered 
hand  with  grand,  silent  disdain,  and  stepping  lightly  down 
from  her  throne. 


THE  DOOM. 


125 


-  ^ 


CHAPTER  XII. 


THE  DOOM. 


Her  majesty's  rising  was  the  signal  for  the  unseen  band 
to  strike  up  a  grand  triumphant  "  lo  paean,"  though,  had 
the  "  Rogue's  March  "  been  a  popular  melody  in  those 
times,  it  would  have  suited  the  procession  much  more  ad- 
mirably. The  queen  and  the  dwarf  went  first,  and  a  vivid 
contrast  they  were — she  so  ^oung,  so  beautiful,  so  proud, 
so  disdainfully  cold ;  he  so  ugly,  so  stunted,  so  deformed,  so 
fiendish.  After  them  went  the  band  of  sylphs  in  white, 
then  the  chancellor,  archbishop,  and  ambassadors ;  next 
the  whole  court  of  ladies  and  gentlemen ;  and  after  them 
Sir  Norman  in  the  custody  of  two  of  the  soldiers.  The 
condemned  earl  came  last,  or  rather  allowed  himself  to 
be  dragged  by  his  four  guards ;  for  he  seemed  to  have  be- 
come perfectly  palsied  and  dumb  with  fear.  Keeping  time 
to  the  triumphant  march,  and  preserving  dismal  silence, 
the  procession  wound  its  way  along  the  room  and  through 
a  great  archway,  heretofore  hidden  by  the  tapestry  now 
lifted  lightly  by  the  nymphs.  A  long  stone  passage,  car- 
peted with  crimson  and  gold,  and  brilliantly  illuminated 
like  the  grand  saloon  they  had  left,  was  thus  revealed,  and 
three  similar  archways  appeared  at  the  extremity,  one  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  one  directly  before  them.  The  pro- 
cession passed  through  the  one  to  the  left,  and  Sir  Nor- 
man started  in  dismay  to  find  himself  in  the  most  gloomy 
apartment  he  had  ever  beheld  in  his  life.  It  was  all 
covered  with  black — walls,  ceiling  and  floor  were  draped 
in  black,  and  reminded  him  forcibly  of  La  Masque's  cham- 
ber of  horrors,  only  this  was  considerably  more  so.  It 
was  lighted,  or  rather  the  gloom  was  troubled,  by  a  few 
spectral  tapers  of  black  wax  in  ebony  candlesticks,  that 


■Hi 


126 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


seemed  absolutely  to  turn  black,  and  make  the  horrible 
place  more  horrible.  There  was  no  furniture — neither 
couch,  chair,  nor  table — nothing  but  a  sort  of  stage  at  tlie 
upper  end  of  the  room,  with  something  that  looked  like  a 
seat  upon  it,  and  both  were  shrouded  with  the  same  dis- 
mal drapery.  But  it  was  no  seat ;  for  everybody  stood, 
arranging  themselves  silently  and  noiselessly  around  the 
walls,  with  the  queen  and  the  dwarf  at  their  head,  and 
near  this  elevation  stood  a  tall,  black  statue,  wearing  a 
mask,  and  leaning  on  a  bright,  dreadful,  glittering  ax. 
The  music  changed  to  an  unearthly  dirge,  so  weird  and 
blood-curdling,  that  Sir  Norman  could  have  put  his  hands 
over  his  ear-drums  to  shut  out  the  ghastly  sound.  The 
dismal  room,  the  voiceless  spectators,  the  black  specter 
with  the  glittering  ax,  the  fearful  music,  struck  a  oliill  to 
his  inmost  heart. 

Could  it  be  possible  they  were  really  going  to  murder 
the  unhappy  wretch  ?  and  could  all  those  beautiful  ladies 
— could  that  surpassingly  beautiful  queen  stand  there 
serenely  unmoved,  to  witness  such  a  crime  ?  While  he 
yet  looked  round  in  horror,  the  doomed  man,  already 
apparently  almost  dead  with  fear,  was  dragged  forward 
by  his  guards.  Paralyzed  as  he  was,  at  sight  of  the  stage 
which  he  knew  to  be  the  scaffold,  he  uttered  shriek  after 
shriek  of  frenzied  despair,  and  struggled  like  a  madman 
to  get  free.  But  as  well  might  Laocoon  have  struggled 
in  the  folds  of  the  serpent ;  they  pulled  him  on,  bound 
him  hand  and  foot,  and  held  his  head  forcibly  down  on 
the  block.  The  black  specter  moved — the  dwarf  made  a 
signal — the  glittering  ax  was  raised — ^fell — a  scream  was 
cut  in  two — a  bright  jet  of  blood  spouted  up  in  the  soldier- * 
faces,  blinding  them :  the  ax  fell  again,  and  the  Eirl  < 
Gloucester  was  minus  that  useful  and  ornamental  appoij 
dage,  a  head. 

It  was  all  over  so  quickly,  that  Sir  Norman  could  scarcely 
believe  his  horrified  senses  until  the  deed  was  done.  The 
executionei-  threw  a  black  cloth  over  the  bleeding  trunk, 
and  held  up  the  grizzly  head  by  the  hair ;  and  Sir  Norman 
could  have  sworn  the  features  moved,  and  the  dead  eyes 
rolled  round  the  room. 

"  Behold !  "  cried  the  executioner,  striking  the  convulsed 


THE  DOOM. 


127 


as 


he 
m 


fece  with  the  palm  of  his  open  hand,  "  the  fate  of  all  trai- 
tors I " 

"  And  of  all  spies  I  "  exclaimed  the  dwarf,  glaring  with 
his  fiendish  eyes  upon  the  appalled  Sir  Norman  "  Keep 
your  ax  sharp  and  bright,  Mv.  Executioner,  for  before 
morning  dawns  there  is  another  gentleman  here  to  be 
made  shorter  by  a  head." 

"  Let  us  go,"  said  the  queen,  glancing  at  the  revoltuag 
sight,  and  turning  away  with  a  shudder  of  repulsion. 
"  Faugh !    The  sight  of  blood  has  made  me  sick." 

"  And  taken  away  my  appetite  for  supper,"  added  a 
youthful  and  elegant  beauty  beside  her.  **  My  Lord 
Gloucester  was  hideous  enough  when  living,  but,  men 
Dieu  1  he  is  ten  times  more  so  when  dead !  " 

"  Your  ladyship  will  not  have  the  same  story  to  tell  of 
yonder  stranger,  when  he  shares  the  same  fate  in  an  hour 
or  two  I "  said  the  dwarf,  with  a  malicious  grin  ;  **  for  I 
heard  you  remarking  upon  his  extreme  beauty  when  he 
first  appeared." 

The  lady  laughed  and  bowed,  and  turned  her  bright 
eyes  upon  Sir  Norman. 

"  True  I  It  is  almost  a  pity  to  cut  such  a  handsome 
head  off — is  it  not  ?  I  wish  I  had  a  voice  in  your  high- 
ness' council,  and  I  know  what  I  should  do." 

"  What,  Lady  Mountjoy  ?  " 

"  Entreat  him  to  swear  fealty,  and  become  one  of  us  ; 
and—" 

"  And  a  bridegroom  for  your  ladyship  ?  "  suggested  the 
queen  with  a  curling  lip.  "I  think  if  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley  knew  Lady  Mountjoy  as  well  as  I  do,  he  would 
even  prefer  the  block  to  such  a  fate  !  " 

Lady  Mountjoy's  brilliant  eyes  shone  like  two  angprj 
meteors ;  but  she  merely  bowed  and  laughed ;  and  the  laugh 
was  echoed  by  the  dwarf  in  his  shrillest  falsetto. 

"Does  your  highness  intend  remaining  here  all 
night  ?  "  demanded  the  nueen  rather  fiercely.  "  If  not,  the 
sooner  we  leave  this  ghastly  place  the  better.  The  play 
is  over,  and  supper  is  waiting." 

With  which  the  royal  virago  made  an  imperious 
motion  for  her  attendant  spirits  in  go^onmer  white  to 
precede  her,  and  turned  with  her  accusV^ned  stately  st*-^ 


I 


I 


128 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


to  follow.  The  music  immediately  changed  from  its 
doleful  dirge  to  a  spirited  measure,  and  the  whole  com- 
pany flocked  after  her,  back  to  the  great  room  of  state. 
There  they  all  paused,  hovering  in  uncertainty  around 
the  room,  while  the  queen,  holding  her  purple  train  up 
lightly  in  one  hand,  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  glanc- 
ing at  them  with  her  cold,  haughty  and  beautiful  eyes. 
In  their  wandering,  those  same  darkly-splendid  eyes 
glanced  and  lighted  on  Sir  Norman,  who,  in  a  state  of 
seeming  stupor  at  the  horrible  scene  he  had  just  witnessed, 
stood  near  the  green  table,  and  they  sent  a  thrill  through 
him  with  their  wonderful  resemblance  to  Leoline's.  So 
vividly  alike  were  they,  that  he  half-doubted  for  a  moment 
whether  she  and  Leoline  were  not  really  one ;  but  no — 
Leoline  never  could  have  had  the  cold,  cruel  heart  to  stand 
and  witness  such  a  horrible  sight.  Miranda's  dark,  pier- 
cing glance  fell  as  haughtily  and  disdainfully  on  him  as  it 
had  on  the  rest ;  and  his  heart  sunk  as  he  thought  that 
whatever  sympathy  she  had  felt  for  him  was  entirely 
gone.  It  might  have  been  a  whim,  a  woman's  caprice, 
spirit  of  contradiction,  that  had  induced  her  to  defend  him 
at  first.  Whatever  it  was,  and  it  mattered  not  now,  it 
had  completely  vanished.  No  face  of  marble  could  have 
been  colder,  or  stonier,  or  harder,  than  hers,  as  she  looked 
at  him  out  of  the  depths  of  her  great  dark  eyes ;  and 
with  that  look,  his  last  lingering  hope  of  life  vanished. 

"  And  now  for  the  next  trial  I  "  exclaimed  the  dwarf, 
briskly  breaking  in  upon  his  drab-colored  meditations, 
and  bustling  past.  "  We  will  get  it  over  at  once,  and 
have  done  with  it  I  " 

**  You  will  do  no  such  thing ! "  said  the  imperious  voice 
of  the  queenly  shrew.  "  We  will  have  neither  trials  nor 
anything  else  until  after  supper,  which  has  already  been 
delayed  four  full  minutes.  My  lord  chamberlain,  have  the 
goodness  to  step  in  and  see  that  all  is  in  order." 

One  of  the  gilded  and  decorated  gentlemen  whom  Sir 
Norman  had  mistaken  for  ambassadors  stepped  off,  in 
obedience,  through  another  opening  in  the  tapestry — 
which  seemed  to  be  as  extensively  undermined  with  such 
apertures  as  a  cabman's  coat  with  capes — and,  while  he 
was  gone,  the  queen  stood  drawn  up  to  her  full  height, 


THE  DOOM. 


120 


ir 
in 


? 


with  her  scornful  ffice  lookinpf  down  on  the  dwarf.  That 
small  man  lit  up  his  very  plain  face  into  a  bristle  of  the 
sourest  kinks,  and  frownefl  sulky  disapproval  at  an  order 
which  he  either  would  not,  or  dared  not,  countermand. 
Probably  the  latter  had  most  to  do  with  it,  as  everybody 
looked  bungryand  mutinous,  and  a  great  deal  more  eager, 
for  their  supper  than  the  life  of  Sir  Norman  Kingsley. 

"  Your  majesty,  the  royal  banquet  is  waiting,"  insinu< 
ated  the  lord  high  chamberlain,  returning,  and  bending 
over  until  his  face  and  his  shoe-buckles  almost  touched. 

"  And  what  is  to  be  done  with  this  prisoner,  while  we 
are  eating  it  ?  "  growled  the  dwarf,  looking  drawn  s  lyords 
at  his  liege  lady. 

"  He  can  remain  here,  under  care  of  the  guards,  can  he 
not?  '*  she  retorted,  sharply.  "  Or,  if  you  are  afraid  thej' 
are  not  equal  to  taking  care  of  him,  you  had  better  stay 
and  watch  him  yourself." 

With  which  answer,  her  majesty  sailed  majestically 
away,  leavhig  the  gentleman  addressed  to  follow  or  not, 
as  he  pleased.  It  pleased  him  to  do  so,  on  the  whole ;  and 
he  went  after  her,  growling  anathemas  between  his  royal 
teeth,  and  evidently  in  the  same  state  of  mind  that  reduces 
gentlemen  in  private  life  to  take  sticks  to  their  aggravat- 
ing spouses,  under  similar  circumstances.  However  it 
might  not  bo  just  the  thing,  perhaps,  for  kings  and  queens 
to  take  broomsticks  to  settle  their  little  differences  of 
opinion,  like  common  Christians ;  and  so  the  prince 
peaceably  followed  her,  and  entered  the  salle  d  manger  with 
the  rest,  and  Sir  Xorman  and  his  keepers  were  left  in  the 
hall  of  state,  monarchs  of  all  they  surveyed.  Notwith- 
standing he  knew  his  hours  were  numbered,  the  young 
knight  could  not  avoid  feeling  cui'ious,  and  the  tapestry 
having  been  drawn  aside,  he  looked  through  the  arch 
with  a  good  deal  of  interest. 

The  apartment  was  smaller  than  the  one  in  which  he 
stood — though  still  very  large,  and  instead  of  being  all 
crimson  and  gold,  was  glancing  and  glittering  with  blue 
and  silver.  These  azure  hangings  were  of  satin,  instead 
of  velvet,  and  looked  quite  light  and  cool,  compared  to 
the  hot,  glowing  place  where  he  was.  The  ceiling  was 
epangled  over  with  silver  stars,  with  the  royal  anna 


180 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


quurtered  in  the  middle,  and  the  chairs  were  of  white, 
polished  wood,  gleaming  like  ivory,  and  cushioned  with 
blue  satin.  The  table  was  of  immense  length,  as  it  had 
need  to  be,  and  flashed  and  sparkled  in  the  wax  light  with 
heaps  of  gold  and  silver  plate,  cut-glass  and  precious  porce- 
lain. Golden  and  crimson  wines  shone  in  the  carved 
decanters ;  great' silver  baskets  of  fruit  were  strewn  about, 
witli  piles  of  cakes  and  confectionery — not  to  speak  of 
more  solid  substantials,  wherein  the  heart  of  every  true 
Englishman  delighteth.  The  queen  sat  in  a  great,  raised 
chair  at  the  head,  and  helped  herself  without  paying  much 
attention  to  anybody,  and  the  remainder  were  ranged 
down  its  length,  according  to  their  rank — which,  as  they 
were  all  pretty  much  dukes  and  duchesses  was  about 
equal. 

The  spirits  of  the  company — depressed  for  a  moment 
by  the  unpleasant  little  circumstance  of  seeing  one  of 
their  number  beheaded — seemed  to  revive  under  the 
spirituous  influence  of  sherry,  sack,  and  burgundy ;  and 
sooii  they  were  laughing,  and  chatting,  and  hobnobbing,  as 
animatedly  as  any  dinner-party  Sir  Norman  had  ever 
seen.  The  musicians,  too,  appeared  to  be  in  high  feather, 
and  the  merriest  music  of  the  day  assisted  the  noble  ban- 
queters* digestion. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  it  was  rather  a  tantaliz- 
ing scene  to  stand  aloof  an^I  contemplate;  and  so  the 
guards  very  likely  felt ;  but  Sir  Norman's  thoughts  were 
of  that  room  in  black,  the  headsman's  ax,  and  Leoline.  He 
felt  he  would  never  see  her  .again — never  see  the  sun  rise 
that  was  to  shine  on  their  bridal ;  and  he  wondered  what 
she  would  think  of  him,  and  if  she  was  destined  to  fall  in- 
to the  hands  of  Lord  Rochester  or  Count  L'Estrange.  As 
a  general  thing,  our  young  friend  was  not  given  to  melan- 
choly moralizing,  but  in  the  present  case,  with  the  heads- 
man's ax,  poised  like  the  sword  of  Damocles  by  a  single 
hair,  he  may  be  pardoned  for  reflecting  that  this  world 
is  all  a  fleeting  show,  and  that  he  had  got  himself  into  a 
scrape  to  which  the  plague  was  a  trifle.  Aud  yet,  with 
nervous  impatience  he  wished  the  dinner  and  his  trial 
were  over,  his  fate  sealed,  and  his  life  ended  at  once,  since 
it  was  to  be  ended  soon.    For  the  fulfilment  of  the  first 


THE  DOOM. 


181 


wishf  he  tiad  not  long  to  wait;  the  feast,  though  gay  and 
grand,  was  of  the  briefest,  and  they  could  have  scarcely 
been  half  an  hour  gone  when  they  were  all  back. 

Everybody  seemed  in  better  humor,  too,  after  the  refec- 
tion, but  the  queen  and  the  dwarf — tlie  former  looked 
colder  and  harder,  and  more  like  a  Labrador  ice)^erg 
tricked  out  in  purple  velvet,  than  ever,  and  his  highness 
was  grinning  from  ear  to  ear — which  was  the  very  worst 
possible  sign.  Not  even  her  majesty  could  make  the 
slightest  excuse  for  delaying  the  trial  now ;  ar*'',  indeed, 
that  eccentric  lady  seemed  to  have  no  wish  to  <*  so,  hud 
she  the  power,  but  seated  herself  in  silent  disdain  of  tluan 
all,  and  dropping  her  long  lashes  over  her  dark  eyes, 
seemed  to  forget  there  was  anybody  in  existence  but  her- 
self. His  highness  and  his  nobles  took  their  stations  of 
authority  behind  the  green  ta])le,  and  summoned  the 
guards  to  lead  the  prisoner  up  before  them,  which  was 
done  ;  while  the  rest  of  the  company  were  fluttering  down 
into  their  seats,  and  evidently  about  to  pay  the  greatest 
attention.  The  cases  in  this  midnight  court  seemed  to  be 
conducted  on  a  decidedly  original  plan,  and  with  an  easy 
rapidity  that  would  have  electrified  any  other  court,  an- 
cient or  modern.  Sir  Norman  took  his  stand,  and  eyed 
his  judges  with  a  look  half-contemptuous,  half -defiant ; 
and  the  proceedings  commenced  by  the  dwarf  b  leaning 
forward  and  breaking  into  a  roar  of  laughtjr,  right  in  his 
face. 

"  My  little  friend,  I  warned  you  before  not  to  be  so 
facetious,"  said  Sir  Norman,  regarding  him  quietly  ;  "  a 
rush  of  mirth  to  the  brain  will  certainly  be  the  death  of 
you  one  of  these  days." 

"  No  levity,  young  man ! "  interposed  the  lord  chancellor, 
rebukingly ;  "  remember,  you  are  addressing  His  Royal 
Highness  Prince  Caliban,  Spouse  and  Consort  of  Her  Most 
Gracious  Majesty,  Miranda  1 " 

"  Indeed  !  Then  all  I  have  to  say  is,  that  her  majesty 
has  very  bad  taste  in  the  selection  of  a  husband,  unless, 
indeed,  her  wish  was  to  marry  the  ugliest  man  in  the 
world,  as  she  herself  is  the  most  beautiful  of  women  I " 

Her  majesty  took  not  the  slightest  notice  of  this  com- 
pliment, not  so  much  as  a  flutter  of  her  diooping  eyelashea 


182 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


! 


'    ' 


'i 


!     I 


betrayed  that  she  even  heard  it,  but  his  highness  laughed 
until  he  was  perfectly  hoarse. 

**  Silence  I  "  shouted  the  duke,  shocked  and  indignant 
at  this  glaring  disrespect,  "  and  answer  truthfully  the 
questions  put  to  you.  Your  name,  you  say,  is  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley  ?  " 

**  Yes.    Has  your  grace  any  objection  to  it  ?  " 

His  grace  waved  down  the  interruption  with  a  dignified 
wave  of  the  hand,  and  went  on  with  severe  judicial 
dignity. 

»*  You  are  the  same  who  shot  Lord  Ashley  between  this 
and  the  city,  some  hours  ago  ?  " 

"  I  had  the  pleasure  of  shooting  a  highwayman  there, 
and  my  only  regret  is,  I  did  not  perform  tlie  same  good 
office  by  his  companion,  in  the  person  of  your  noble  self, 
before  you  turned  and  fled." 

A  slight  titter  ran  around  the  room,  and  the  duke  turned 
crimson. 

**  These  remarks  are  impertinent,  and  not  to  the  purpose. 
You  are  the  murderer  of  Lord  Ashley,  let  that  suffice. 
Probably  you  were  on  your  way  hither  when  you  did  the 
deed?" 

"  He  was,"  said  the  dwarf,  vindictively.  "  I  met  him 
at  the  *  Golden  Crown  '  but  a  short  time  after." 

"  Very  well,  that  is  another  point  settled,  and  either  of 
them  is  strong  enough  to  seal  his  death-warrant.  You 
came  here  as  a  spy,  to  see  and  hear,  and  report — probably 
you  were  sent  by  King  Charles  ?  " 

**  Probably — ^just  think  as  you  please  about  it !  "  said 
Sir  Norman,  who  knew  his  case  was  as  desperate  as  it 
could  be,  and  was  quite  reckless  what  he  answered. 

"  You  own  you  are  a  spy,  then  ?  " 

"  No  such  thing.    I  have  owned  nothing.    As  I  tol^ 
you  before,  you  are  welcome  to  put  what  construction  you 
please  on  my  actions." 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  this  is  nonsensical  equivocation  I 
You  own  you  came  U)  hear  and  see  ?  " 


«  Well  ? 


n 


t( 


Well 


not? 


hearing  and  seeing  constitute  spying,  do  they 
Therefore, 


you  are  a  spy 


)» 


♦*I  owii  it  looks  like  it,    WU?it  next? 


n 


THE  DOOM. 


188 


rOU 

lont 


ley 


**  Need  you  ask  ?    What  is  the  fate  of  all  spies  ?  " 

"  No  matter  what  they  are  in  other  places,  I  an  pretty 
certain  what  they  are  here !  " 

"And  that  is?" 

«  A  room  in  black,  and  a  chop  with  an  ax — the  Earl  of 
Gloucester's,  in  a  word !  " 

"  You  have  said  it  I  Have  you  any  reason  why  such  a 
sentence  should  not  be  pronounced  on  you  ?  " 

*«  None ;  pronounce  it  as  soon  as  you  like." 

«  With  the  greatest  pleasure ! "  said  the  duke,  who  had 
been  scrawling  on  another  ominous  roll  of  vellum,  and 
now  passed  it  to  the  dwarf.  "  I  never  knew  any  one  it 
gave  me  more  delight  to  condemn.  Will  your  highness 
pass  that  to  her  majesty  for  signature,  and  pronounce  his 
sentence." 

His  highness,  with  a  grin  of  most  exquisite  delight,  did 
as  directed ;  and  Sir  Norman  looked  steadfastly  at  the 
queen  as  she  received  it.  One  of  the  gauzy  nymphs  pre- 
sented it  to  her,  kneeling,  and  she  took  it  with  a  look 
half  bored,  half  impatient,  and  lightly  scrawled  her  auto- 
graph. The  long  dark  lashes  didn't  lift ;  no  change  passed 
over  the  calm,  cold  face,  as  icily  placid  as  a  frozen  lake 
in  the  moonlight — evidently  tho  life  or  death  of  the  stran- 
ger was  nothing  to  her.  To  him  she,  too,  was  as  nothing, 
or  nearly  so ;  but  yet  there  was  a  sharp,  jarring  pain  at 
his  heart,  as  he  saw  that  fair  hand,  that  had  saved  him 
once,  so  coolly  sign  his  death-warrant  now.  But  there 
was  little  time  left  to  watch  her ;  for,  as  she  pushed  it 
impatiently  away,  and  relapsed  into  her  former  proud 
listlessness,  the  dwarf  got  up  with  one  of  his  death*s-head 
grins  and  began : 

**  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  you've  been  tried  and  convicted 
as  a  spy,  and  the  paid  hireling  of  the  vindictive  Charles ; 
and  the  sentence  of  this  court,  over  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  preside,  is,  that  you  be  taken  hence  immediately 
to  the  place  of  execution ,  and  there  lose  your  head  by  the 
ax  I" 

"  And  a  mighty  small  loss  it  will  be  I "  remarked  the 
duke  to  himself,  in  a  sort  of  parenthesis,  as  the  dwarf  con- 
cluded his  pleasant  observations  by  thrusting  himself 
forward  across  the  table,  after  his  rather  discomposing 


■ 


yr  '■ 


184 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


fashion,  and  breaking  out  into  one  of  his  diabolical  laugh- 
ter-claps. 

The  queen,  who  had  been  sitting  passive,  and  looking 
as  if  she  were  in  spirit  a  thousand  miles  away,  now  started 
up  with  sharp  suddenness,  and  favored  his  highness  with 
one  of  her  fiercest  fiery  glances. 

**  Will  your  highness  just  permit  somebody  else  to  have 
a  voice  in  that  matter  ?  How  many  more  trials  are  to 
come  on  to-night  ?  " 

"  Only  one,"  replied  the  duke,  glancing  over  a  little  roll 
which  he  held ;  "  Lady  Castlemaine's,  for  poisoning  the 
Duchess  of  Sutherland." 

**  And  what  is  my  Lady  Castlemaine's  fate  to  be  ?" 

"  The  same  as  our  friend's  here,  in  all  probability,"  nod- 
ding easily,  not  to  say  playfully,  at  Sir  Norman. 

*♦  And  how  long  will  her  trial  last  ?  " 

*»  Half  an  hour,  or  thereabouts.  There  are  some  secrets 
in  the  matter  that  have  to  be  investigated,  and  which  will 
require  some  time." 

"  Then  let  all  the  trials  be  over  first,  and  all  the  behead- 
ings take  place  together.  We  don't  choose  to  take  the 
trouble  of  traveling  to  the  Black  Chamber  just  to  see  his 
head  chopped  off,  and  then  have  the  same  journey  to  un- 
dergo half  an  hour  after,  for  a  similar  purpose.  Call  Lady 
Castlemaine,  and  let  this  prisoner  be  taken  to  one  of  the 
dungeons,  and  there  remain  until  the  time  for  execution. 
Guards,  do  you  hear  ?    Take  him  away  !  " 

The  dwarfs  face  grew  black  as  a  thunder-cloud,  and  he 
jumped  to  his  feet,  and  confronted  the  queen  with  a  look 
so  intensely  ugly  that  no  other  earthly  face  could  have 
assumed  it.  But  that  lady  merely  met  it  with  one  of 
cold  disdain  and  aversion,  and,  keeping  her  dark  bright 
eyes  fixed  chillingly  upon  him,  waved  her  white  hand,  in 
her  imperious  way,  to  the  guards.  Those  warlike  gentle- 
men knew  better  than  to  disobey  her  most  gracious 
majesty,  when  she  happened  to  be,  like  Mrs.  Joe  Gargary, 
on  the  "  rampage,"  which,  if  her  flashing  eye  and  a  certain 
expression  about  her  handsome  mouth  spoke  the  truth, 
must  have  been  twenty  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four.  As 
the  soldiers  approached  to  lead  him  away.  Sir  Norman 
tried  to  catch  her  eye;  but  in  vain,  for  she  kept  those 


THE  DOOM. 


185 


brilliant  optics  most  unwinkingly  fixed  on  the  dwarfs 
face. 

"  Call  Lady  Castlemaine ! "  commanded  the  duke,  as 
Sir  Nonnan  with  his  guards  passed  through  the  doorway 
leading  to  the  Black  Chamber.  "  Your  highness,  I  pre- 
sume, is  ready  to  attend  to  her  case  ?  " 

"  Before  I  attend  to  hers  or  any  one  else's  case,"  said  the 
dwarf,  hopping  over  the  table  like  an  over-grown  toad; 
"  T  will  first  see  that  this  guest  of  ours  is  properly  taken 
caie  of,  and  does  not  leave  us  without  the  ceremony  of 
saying  good-by." 

With  which  he  seized  one  of  the  wax  candles,  and 
trotted,  with  rather  unprincely  haste,  after  Sir  Norman 
and  his  conductors.  The  young  knight  had  been  led  down 
the  same  long  passage  he  had  walked  through  before ;  but 
instead  of  entering  the  chamber  of  horrors,  they  passed 
through  the  center  arch,  and  found  themselves  in  another 
long,  vaulted  corridor,  dimly  lit  by  the  glow  of  the  outer 
one.  It  was  as  cold  and  dismal  a  place.  Sir  Norman 
thought,  as  he  had  ever  seen  ;  and  it  had  an  odor  damp 
and  earthy,  and  of  the  grave.  It  had  two  or  three  great, 
ponderous  doors  on  either  side,  fastened  with  huge  iron 
bolts;  and  before  one  of  these  his  conductors  paused. 
Just  as  they  did  so,  the  glimmer  of  the  dwarfs  taper 
pierced  the  gloom,  and  the  next  moment,  smiling  from 
ear  to  ear,  he  was  by  their  side. 

"  Down  with  the  bars  I "  he  cried.  "  This  is  the  one 
for  him — the  strongest  and  safest  of  them  all.  Now,  my 
dashing  courtier,  you  will  see  how  tenderly  your  little 
friend  provides  for  his  favorites ! " 

If  Sir  Norman  made  any  reply,  it  was  drowned  in  the 
rattle  and  clank  of  the  massive  bars,  and  is  hopelessly  lost 
to  posterity.  The  huge  door  swung  back ;  but  nothing 
was  visible  but  a  black  velvet  pall,  and  an  effluvia  much 
stronger  than  sweet.  Involuntarily  he  recoiled,  as  one  of 
the  guards  made  a  motion  for  him  to  enter. 

"  Shove  him  in  I  shove  him  in ! "  shrieked  the  dwarf, 
who  was  getting  so  excited  with  glee  that  he  was  dancing 
about  in  a  sort  of  jig  oi  delight.  "  In  with  him — in  with 
him  I  If  he  won't  go  peaceably,  kick  him  in  head-fore- 
most I'* 


■i 


!: 


186 


' 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  I  would  strongly  advise  them  not  to  trj  it,"  said  Sir 
Norman,  as  he  stepped  into  the  blackness,  "  if  they  have 
any  regard  for  their  health  !  It  does  not  make  much  dif- 
ference after  all,  my  little  friend,  whether  I  spend  the 
next  half  hour  in  the  inky  blackness  of  this  place,  or  the 
blood-red  grandeur  of  your  royal  court.  My  little  friend, 
until  we  meet  again,  permit  me  to  say,  au  revoir." 

The  dwarf  laughed  in  his  pleasant  way,  and  pushed  the 
candle  cautiously  inside  the  door. 

**  Good-by  for  a  little  while,  my  dear  young  sir ;  and 
while  the  headsman  is  sharpening  his  ax,  I'll  leave  you  to 
think  about  your  little  friend.  Lest  you  should  lack 
amusement,  I'll  leave  you  a  light  to  contemplate  your 
apartments ;  and  for  fear  you  may  get  lonesome,  these 
two  gentlemen  will  stand  outside  your  door,  with  their 
swords  drawn,  till  I  come  back.  Good-by,  my  dear  young 
sir — good-by  !  " 

The  dungeon  door  swung  to  with  a  tremendous  bang. 
Sir  Norman  was  barred  in  his  prison  to  await  his  doom, 
and  the  dwarf  was  skipping  along  the  passage  with  spright- 
liness,  laughing  as  he  went. 


ESCAPED. 


187 


CHAPTER  Xin. 


ESCAPED. 


Probably  not  one  of  you,  my  dear  friends,  who  glance 
graciously  over  this,  were  ever  shut  up  in  a  dungeon  under 
expectation  of  bearing  the  unpleasant  operation  of  decapi- 
tation within  half  an  hour.  It  never  happened  to  myself, 
either,  that  I  can  recollect ;  so,  of  course,  you  or  I  person- 
ally can  form  no  idea  what  the  sensation  may  be  like ; 
but  in  this  particular  case,  tradition  saitb,  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley's  state  of  mind  was  decidedly  depressed.  As 
the  door  shut  violently,  he  leaned  against  it,  and  listened 
to  his  jailers  place  the  great  bars  into  their  sockets,  and 
felt  he  was  shut  in,  in  the  dreariest,  darkest,  disnialest 
disagreeablest  place  that  it  had  ever  been  his  misfortune 
to  enter.  He  thought  of  Leoline  and  reflected  that  in  all 
probability  she  was  sleeping  +he  sleep  of  the  just — per- 
haps dreaming  of  him,  and  li'.de  knowing  that  his  head 
was  to  be  cut  off  in  half  an  hour. 

In  the  course  of  time  morning  would  come — it  was  not 
likely  the  ordinary  course  of  nature  would  be  cut  olf  l>e- 
cause  he  was ;  and  Leoline  would  get  up  and  dress  hersolf, 
and  looking  a  thousand  times  prettier  than  ever,  stand  at 
the  window  and  wait  for  him.  Ah !  she  might  wait- 
much  good  would  it  do  her ;  about  that  time  he  would  hv 
— where?  It  was  a  rather  uncomfortable  question,  not 
easily  answered,  and  depressed  him  to  a  very  desponding 
degree  indeed.  He  thought  of  Ormiston  and  La  Masque 
— no  doubt  they  were  billing  and  cooing  in  most  approved 
fashion  just  then,  and  never  thinking  of  him  ;  though,  but 
for  La  Masque  and  his  own  folly,  he  might  have  been 
half  married  by  this  time.  He  thought  of  Count 
L*Estranefe  and  Master  Hubert,  and  became  firin'v  oon- 
Vincedj  ta;il  :.'  oil-  vli  1  nut  tl;  I  AJvtuiiUi  liu;  ulUoJ  vVvJ^idj 


188 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


n! 


and  each  being  ecjually  bad,  it  was  a  toss  up  in  agony 
which  got  her.  He  thought  of  Queen  Miranda,  and  of  the 
adage,  "  pat  no  trust  in  princes,"  and  sighed  deeply  as  he 
reflected  what  a  bad  sign  of  human  nature  it  was — more 
particularly  such  handsome  human  nature — that  she  could, 
figuratively  speaking,  pat  him  on  the  back  one  moment 
and  kick  him  to  the  scaffold  the  next.  He  thougiit  deject- 
edly, what  a  fool  he  was  ever  to  have  come  back ;  or  even 
having  come  back,  not  to  have  taken  greater  pains  to  stay 
up  aloft,  instead  of  pitching  abruptly  head-foreinost  into 
such  a  select  company  without  an  invitation.  He  thought, 
too,  what  a  cold,  damp,  unwholesome  chamber  they  had 
lodged  him  in,  and  how  ftpt  he  would  be  to  have  a  bad 
attack  of  ague  and  rheuriatic  fevers,  if  they  would  only 
let  him  live  long  enoug'h  to  enjoy  those  blessings.  And 
this  having  brought  him  to  the  end  of  his  melancholy 
meditation,  he  began  to  reflect  how  he  could  best  amuse 
himself  in  the  interim,  before  quitting  this  vale  of  tears. 
The  candle  was  still  blinking  feebly  on  the  floor,  shedding 
tears  of  wax  in  its  feeble  prostration,  and  it  suddenly  re- 
minded him  of  the  dwarf's  advice  to  examine  his  dark  bow- 
er of  repose.  So  he  picked  it  up  and  snuffed  it  with  his  fin- 
gers, and  held  it  aloof,  much  as  Robinson  Crusoe  held  the 
brand  in  the  dark  cavern  with  the  dead  goat. 

In  the  velvet  pall  of  blackness  before  alluded  to,  its 
small,  wan  ray  pierced  but  a  few  inches,  and  only  made 
the  darkness  visible.  But  Sir  Norman  groped  his  way  to 
the  wall,  which  he  found  to  be  all  over  green  and  noisome 
slime ;  and  broken  out  into  a  clammy  perspiration,  as  though 
it  were  at  its  last  gasp.  By  the  aid  of  his  friendly  light, 
for  which  he  was  really  much  obliged — a  fact  which,  had 
his  little  friend  known,  he  would  not  have  left  it — he  man- 
aged to  mnke  tlie  circuit  of  his  prison,  which  he  found 
rather  spacious,  and  by  no  means  uninhabited ;  for  the 
black  walls  and  floor  were  covered  with  fat,  black  beetles, 
whole  families  of  which  interesting  specimens  of  the  in- 
sect-world he  crunched  remorselessly  under  foot,  and  mas- 
sacred at  every  step;  and  great  depraved-looking  rats, 
with  flashing  eyes  and  sinister  teeth,  who  made  frantic 
dives  and  rushes  at  him,  and  bit  at  his  jack-bootd  with 
fury.    These  small  quadrupeds  reminded  him  forcibly  of 


ESCAPED. 


m 


the  dwarf,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  eyes  and  the 
general  expression  of  countenance ;  and  he  began  to  re- 
flect that  if  the  dwarf's  soul  (supposing  him  to  possess 
such  an  article  as  that,  which  seemed  open  to  debate) 
passed  after  death  into  the  body  of  any  other  animal,  it 
would  certainly  be  into  that  of  a  rat.  lie  had  just  come 
to  this  conclusion,  and  was  applying  the  flame  of  the  can- 
dle to  the  nose  of  an  inquisitive  beetle,  when  it  struck  him 
he  heard  voices  in  altercation  outside  his  door.  One,  clear, 
ringing,  and  imperious,  yet  withal  feminine,  was  certpanly 
not  heard  for  the  first  time  ;  and  the  subued  and  respect- 
ful voices  that  answered,  were  those  of  his  guards. 

After  a  moment,  he  heard  the  sound  of  withdrawing 
bolts,  and  his  heart  beat  fast.  Surely,  his  half-hour  had 
not  already  expired ;  and  if  it  had,  would  she  be  the  per- 
son to  conduct  him  to  death  ?  The  door  opened ;  a  puff 
of  wind  extinguished  his  candle,  but  not  until  he  had 
caught  a  glimmer  of  jewels,  the  shining  of  gold,  and  the 
flutter  of  long,  black  hair ;  and  then  some  one  came  in. 
The  door  was  closed ;  the  bolts  shot  back — and  he  was 
alone  with  Miranda,  the  queen.  There  was  no  trouble  in 
recognizing  her,  for  she  carried  in  her  hand  a  small  lamp, 
which  she  held  up  between  them,  that  its  rays  might  fall 
directly  on  both  faces.  Each  was  rather  white,  perhaps, 
and  one  heart  was  going  faster  than  it  had  ever  gone  be- 
fore, and  that  one  was  decidedly  not  the  queen's.  She 
was  dressed  exactly  as  he  had  seen  her,  in  purple  and  er- 
mine, in  jewels  and  gold ;  and  strangely  out  of  place  bhe 
looked  there,  in  her  splendid  dress  and  splendid  beauty, 
among  the  black  beetles  and  rats.  Her  face  might  have 
been  a  dead,  blank  wall,  or  cut  out  of  cold,  white  stone, 
for  all  it  expressed ;  and  as  she  lightly  held  up  her  rich 
robes  in  one  hand,  and  in  the  other  bore  the  light,  the  dark, 
shining  eyes  were  fixed  on  his  face,  and  were  as  barren  of 
interest,  eagerness,  compassion,  tenderness,  or  any  other 
feeling,  as  the  shining,  black  glass  ones  of  a  wax  doll.  So 
they  stood  looking  at  each  other  for  some  ten  seconds  or 
so,  and  then,  still  looking  full  at  him,  Miranda  spoke,  and 
her  voice  was  as  clear  and  emotionless  as  her  eyes  : 

"  Well,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  I  have  come  to  see  you 
before  you  die." 


.y 


140 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"Madam,"  he  stammered,  scarcely  knowing  what  he 
said,  "  you  are  kind." 

"Am  I?  Perhaps  you  forget  I  signed  your  death 
warrant." 

"  Probably  it  would  have  been  at  the  risk  of  your  own 
life  to  refuse  ?  " 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind !  Not  one  of  them  would  hurt  a 
hair  of  my  head  if  I  refused  to  sign  fifty  death-warrants  I 
Now,  an  I  kind  ?  " 

"  Very  likely  it  would  have  amounted  to  the  same  thing 
in  the  end — they  would  kill  me  whether  you  signed  it  or 
not ;  so  what  does  it  matter  ?  " 

"  You  are  mistaken  !  They  would  not  kill  you ;  at  least, 
not  to-night,  if  I  had  not  signed  it.  They  would  have  let 
you  live  until  their  next  meeting,  which  will  be  this  night 
week ;  and  I  would  have  incurred  neither  risk  nor  danger 
by  refusing." 

Sir  Norman  glanced  round  the  dungeon  and  shrugged 
his  shoulders. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  that  prospect  is  much  more  invit- 
ing than  the  present  one.  Even  death  is  preferable  to  a 
week's  imprisonment  in  a  place  like  this." 

"  But  in  the  mean  time  you  might  have  escaped." 

"  Madam,  look  at  this  stone  floor,  that  stone  roof,  those 
solid  walls,  that  barred  and  massive  door ;  reflect  that  I 
am  some  forty  feet  under  ground — cannot  perform  im- 
possibilities, and  then  ask  yourself  how  ?  " 

"  Sir  Norman,  have  you  ever  heard  of  good  fairies  visit- 
ing brave  knights  and  setting  them  free  I " 

Sir  Norman  smiled. 

"  I  am  afraid  the  good  fairies  and  brave  knights  went 
the  way  of  all  flesh  with  King  Arthur's  round  teble  ;  and 
even  if  they  were  in  existence,  none  of  them  would  take 
the  trouble  to  limp  down  so  far  to  save  such  an  unlucky 
dog  as  I." 

«  Then  you  forgive  me  for  what  I  have  done  ?  " 

"  Your  majesty,  I  have  nothing  to  forgive." 

«  Bah  I "  she  said,  scornfully.  "  Do  not  mock  me  here. 
My  majesty,  forsooth !  you  have  but  fifteen  minutes  to  live 
in  this  world,  Sir  Norman ;  and  if  you  have  no  better  way 


ESCAPED. 


141 


of  spending  them,  I  will  tell  you  a  strange  story — my  own, 
and  all  about  this  place." 

"  Madam,  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  I  would  like  so 
much  to  hear." 

"  You  shall  hear  it,  then,  and  it  may  beguile  the  last 
slow  moments  of  time  before  you  go  out  into  eternity." 

She  set  her  lamp  down  on  the  floor  among  the  rats  ai.(^ 
beetles,  and  stood  watching  the  small  red  flame  a  moiii(>:  t 
with  a  gloomy,  downcast  eye  ;  and  Sir  Norman,  g;i/i!i,t',  < n 
the  beautiful  darkening  face,  so  like  and  yet  so  unlilvo 
Leoline,  stood  eagerly  awaiting  what  was  to  come. 


Meantime  the  half  hour  sped.  In  the  crimson  court 
the  last  trial  was  over,  and  Lady  Castle  mai  no,  a  slender 
little  beauty  of  eighteen,  stood  condemned  to  die. 

** Now  for  our  other  prisoner!"  exclaimed  the  dwarf 
with  sprightly  animation ;  "  and  whii  e  I  go  to  the  cell,  you, 
fair  ladies,  and  you,  my  lord,  will  se3k  the  black  chamber 
and  await  our  coming  there." 

Ordering  one  of  his  attendants  co  precede  him  with  a 
light,  the  dwarf  skipped  jauntily  away  to  gloat  over  his 
victim.  He  reached  the  dungeon-door,  which  the  guards, 
with  some  trepidation  in  their  countenance,  as  they 
thought  of  what  his  highness  would  say  when  he  found 
her  majesty  locked  in  with  the  prisoner,  threw  open. 

"  Come  forth,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley ! "  shouted  the 
dwarf,  rushing  in.    "  Come  forth  and  meet  your  doom  ! " 

But  no  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  obej^ed  the  pleasant  invi- 
tation, and  a  dull  echo  from  the  interior  alone  answered 
him.  There  was  a  lamp  burning  on  the  floor,  and  near  it 
lay  a  form,  shining  and  specked  with  white  in  the  glooi? 
He  made  for  it  between  fear  and  fury,  but  there  was 
something  red  and  slippery  on  the  ground,  in  AvUich  liis 
foot  slipped,  and  he  fell.  Simultaneously  there  was  a  wild 
cry  from  the  two  guards  and  the  attendant,  that  was 
echoed  by  a  perfect  screech  of  rage  from  the  dwarf,  as  on 
looking  down  he  beheld  Queen  Miranda  lying  on  the  floor 
in  the  pool  of  blood,  and  appart-  tly  quite  dead,  and  Sir 
Norman  Kingsley  gone. 


142   ^ 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEIT. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


IN    THE    DUNGEON. 


if 


1  I 


i 


The  interim  between  Miranda  setting  clown  her  lamp 
on  the  dungeon  floor  among  the  rats  and  the  beetles,  and 
the  dwarf's  ttnding  her  bleeding  and  senseless,  was  not 
more  than  twenty  minutes,  but  a  great  deal  may  be  done 
in  twenty  minutes  judiciously  expended,  and  most  de- 
cidedly it  was  so  in  the  present  case.  Both  rats  and 
beetles  paused  to  contemplate  the  flickering  lamp,  and 
Miranda  paused  to  contemplate  them,  and  Sir  Norman 
paused  to  contemplate  her  for  an  instant  or  so  in  silence. 
Her  marvelous  resemblance  to  Leoline,  in  all  but  one  thing, 
struck  him  more  and  more — there  was  the  same  beauti- 
ful, transparent,  colorless  complexion,  the  same  light, 
straight,  graceful  figure,  the  same  small,  oval,  delicate 
features ;  the  same  profuse  waves  of  shining  dark  hair ; 
the  same  large,  dar]c,  brilliant  eyes ;  the  same  little,  rosy, 
pretty  mouth,  like  one  of  Correggio's  smiling  angels.  Tlie 
one  thing  wantiii,-^  was  expression — in  Leoline's  face  there 
was  a  kind  of  childlike  simplicity  :  a  look  half-shy,  half- 
fearless,  half-soleiuu  in  her  wonderful  eyes ;  but  in  tlils, 
her  prototype, there  was  nothing  shy  nor  solemn;  all  v/ns 
cold,  hard,  and  glittering,  and  the  brooding  eyes  w ere  luli 
of  a  dull,  dusky  fire.  She  looked  as  hard  and  cold  si  id 
bitter  as  she  w.is  beautiful ;  and  Sir  Norman  begiin  to 
perplex  himself  inwardly  as  to  wliat  had  hi  ought  1  er 
here.  Surely  not  sympathy,  for  nothing  wojunif^'  that 
face  o2  ctone,  could  even  know  the  meaning  of  sueli  a 
word.  While  he  looked  at  her,  lialf-wonderingly,  half- 
pityingly,  half-tenderly — a  queer  word  that  lust,  l)ut  tlie 
feeling  was  caused  by  her  resemblance  to  Leoline — she 
had  been  moorlily  watching  an  o\(\  gr^iy  rat,  the  patriarch 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


143 


of  his  tribe,  who  was  making  toward  her  in  short  runs, 
stopping  between  each  one  to  stare  at  her,  out  of  his  un- 
pleasantly bright  eyes.  Suddenly,  Miranda  shut  her  teeth, 
clenched  her  hands,  and  with  a  sort  of  fierce,  suppressed 
ejaculation,  lifted  her  shining  foot  and  planted  it  full  on 
the  varmint's  head.  So  sudden,  so  fierce,  and  so  strong 
was  the  stamp,  that  the  rat  was  crushed  flat,  and  uttered 
a  sharp  and  indignant  squeal  of  expostulation,  while  Sir 
Norman  looked  at  her,  thinking  she  had  lost  her  wits. 
Still  she  ground  it  down  with  a  fiercer  and  stronger  force 
every  second ;  and  with  her  eyes  still  fixed  upon  it,  and 
blazing  with  reddish  black  flame,  she  said,  in  a  sort  of 
fiery  hiss : 

"  Look  at  it  1  The  ugly,  loathsome  thing  I  Did  you 
ever  see  anything  look  more  like  him  ?  " 

There  must  have  been  some  mysterious  rapport  between 
them,  for  he  understood  at  once  to  whom  the  solitary  per- 
sonal pronoun  referred. 

"Certainly,  in  the  general  expression  of  countenance 
there  is  rather  a  marked  resemblance,  especially  in  the 
region  of  the  teeth  and  eyes." 

"  Except  that  the  rat's  eyes  are  a  thousand  times  hand- 
somer," she  broke  in,  with  a  derisive  laugh. 

"  But  as  to  shape,"  resumed  Sir  Norman,  eying  the  ex- 
cited and  astonished  little  animal,  still  shrilly  squealing, 
with  the  glance  of  a  connoisseur,  "  I  confess  I  do  not  see 
it  I  The  rat  is  straight  and  shapely — which  his  highness, 
with  all  reverence  be  it  said — is  not,  but  rather  the  re- 
verse, if  you  will  not  be  offended  at  me  for  saying  so." 

She  broke  into  a  short  laugh  that  had  a  hard,  metallic 
ring,  and  thtu  her  face  darkened,  blackened,  and  she 
ground  the  tx)t  that  crushed  the  rat  fiercer,  and  with  a 
sort  of  passionate  vindictiveness,  as  if  she  had  the  head 
of  the  dwarf  under  her  heel. 

"  I  hate  him  I  I  hate  him ! "  she  said,  through  her 
clenched  teeth,  and  though  her  tone  was  scarcely  above  a 
whisper,  it  was  so  terrible  in  its  fiery  earnestness  that  Sir 
Norman  thrilled  with  repulsion.  "  Yes,  I  hate  him  with 
all  my  heart  and  soul,  and  I  wish  to  heaven  I  had  him 
here,  like  this  rat,  to  trample  to  death  under  my  feet !  " 

Not  knowing  very  well  what  reply  to  make  to  thi9 


144 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


U 


\ 


strong  anrl  heartfelt  speech,  which  rather  shocked  his  no- 
tions of  female  propriety,  Sir  Norman  stood  silent,  and 
looked  reflectively  after  the  rat,  which,  when  she  per- 
mitted it  at  last  to  go  free,  limped  away  with  an  ineffably 
snt'akiiig  and  (^'estfallen  expression  on  his  hitherto  ani- 
m.itcd  features.  Siie  watched  it,  too,  with  a  gloomy  eye, 
and  wlieu  it  crawled  into  the  darkness  and  was  gone,  she 
looked  up  with  a  face  so  dark  and  moody  that  it  was  al- 
most sullen. 

"  Yes,  I  hate  him ! "  she  repeated,  with  a  fierce  moodi- 
ness that  was  quite  dreadful,  "  yes,  I  hate  him  1  and  I 
would  kill  him,  like  that  rat,  if  I  could  I  He  has  been  the 
curse  of  my  whole  life ;  he  has  made  life  cursed  to  me ; 
and  his  heart's  blood  shall  be  shed  for  it  some  day  yet,  I 
swear ! " 

With  all  her  beauty  there  was  something  so  horrible 
in  the  look  she  wore,  that  Sir  Norman  involuntarily  re- 
coiled from  her.  Iler  sharp  eyes  noticed  it,  and  both 
grew  red  and  fiery  as  two  devouring  flames. 

"  Ah  I  you,  too,  shrink  from  me,  would  you  ?  You,  too, 
recoil  in  horror !  Ingrate !  And  I  have  come  to  save 
your  life ! " 

"  Madam,  I  recoil  not  from  you  but  from  that  which  is 
tempting  yoii  to  utter  words  like  these.  I  have  no  reason 
to  love  him  of  wliojii  you  speak — you,  perhaps,  have  even 
less ;  but  I  would  not  have  his  blood,  shed  in  murder,  on 
my  head,  for  ten  thousand  worlds  1  Pardon  me,  but  you 
do  not  mean  what  you  say." 

"  Do  I  not  ?  That  remains  to  be  seen !  I  would  not 
call  it  murder  plunging  a  knife  into  the  heart  of  a  demon 
incarnate  like  that,  and  I  would  have  done  it  long  ago, 
and  he  knows  it  too,  if  I  had  the  chance  1 " 

"  What  has  he  done  to  you  to  make  you  so  bitter  against 
him?" 

"  Bitter  1  Oh,  that  word  is  poor  and  pitiful  to  express 
what  I  feel  when  his  name  is  mentioned.  Loathing  and 
hating  come  a  little  nearer  the  mark,  but  even  they  are 
weak  to  express  the  utter — the — "  She  stopped  in  a  sort 
of  white  passion  that  choked  her  very  words. 

"  They  told  me  he  was  your  husband,"  insinuated  Sit 
Norman,  unutterably  repelled.  ,  .  ^ 


} 


IN  THE  DUNGEOK. 


145 


"Did  they?"  she  said,  with  a  cold  .sneer,  "  he  is  too — 
at  least  as  far  as  church  and  state  can  make  him ;  but  I 
am  no  more  liis  wife  at  lieart  tlian  I  am  Satan's.  Truly 
of  the  two  I  should  prefer  the  latter,  for  tlien  I  should  be 
wedded  to  something  grand — a  fallen  angel ;  as  it  i.s,  I 
have  the  honor  to  be  wife  of  a  devil  who  never  was  an 
angel ! " 

At  this  shocking  statement  Sir  Norman  looked  help- 
lessly round,  as  if  for  relief ;  and  Miranda,  after  a  mo- 
ment's silence,  broke  into  another  mirthless  laugh. 

"  Of  all  the  pictures  of  ugliness  you  ever  .saw  or  heard 
of.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  do  tell  me  if  there  ever  was  one 
of  them  half  so  repulsive  or  disgusting  as  that  thing?" 

"  Really,"  said  Sir  Norman,  in  a  subdued  tone,  "  he  is 
not  the  most  prepossessing  little  man  in  the  world ;  but, 
madam,  you  do  look  and  speak  in  a  manner  quite  dread- 
ful. Do  let  me  prevail  on  you  to  calm  yourself,  and  tell 
me  your  story,  as  you  promised." 

"  Calm  myself  1 "  repeated  the  gentle  lady,  in  a  tone 
half  snappish,  half  harsh,  "  do  you  think  I  am  made  of 
iron,  to  tell  you  my  story  and  be  that  ?  I  hate  him !  I 
hate  him !  I  hate  him !  I  would  kill  him  if  I  could ;  and 
if  you.  Sir  Norman,  are  half  the  man  I  take  you  to  be, 
you  will  rid  the  world  of  the  horrible  monster  before 
morning  dawns ! " 

"  My  dear  lady,  you  seem  to  forget  that  the  case  is  re- 
versed, and  that  he  is  going  to  rid  the  world  of  me,"  said 
Sir  Norman,  with  a  sigh. 

"No,  not  if  you  do  as  I  tell  you ;  and  when  I  have  tdd 
you  how  much  cause  I  have  to  abhor  him,  you  will  agree 
with  me  that  killing  him  will  be  no  murder  I  Oh,  if  there 
is  One  above  who  rules  this  world,  and  will  judge  us  all, 
why,  why  does  he  permit  such  monsters  to  live  ?  " 

"  Because  he  is  more  merciful  than  his  creatures,"  re- 
plied Sir  Norman,  with  calm  reverence,  "  though  His 
avenging  hand  is  heavy  on  this  doomed  city.  But,  madam, 
time  is  on  the  wing,  and  the  headsman  will  be  here  before 
your  story  is  told." 

«  Ah,  that  story  !  How  am  I  to  tell  it,  I  wonder.  Two 
words  will  comprise  it  ii^I—   in  iiid  misery — misery  and 


eiu  I    For  buried  alive 


.III 


buried  alive,  as  IVq 


146 


THE  MmNIOHT  QUEEN. 


Pi  1 


I 


n 


always  been,  I  know  what  both  words  mean ;  they  have 
been  branded  on  heart  find  brain  in  letters  of  fire.  And 
that  horrilile  monstrosity  is  the  cause  of  it  all ;  that  loath- 
some, misshapen,  hideous  abortion  has  banned  and  cursed 
my  wliole  life  1  He  is  my  first  recollection.  As  far  back 
as  I  can  look  through  the  dim  maze  of  childhood's  years, 
that  horril)le  face,  that  gnarled  and  twisted  trunk,  those 
devilish  eyes,  mop  and  mow,  and  glare  at  me  like  the  eyes 
and  face  of  a  wild  beast.  As  memory  grows  stronger  and 
more  vivid,  I  can  see  that  same  face  still — the  dwarf  I  the 
dwarf !  the  dwarf ! — Satan's  true  representative  on  earth, 
darkening  and  blighting  every  passing  year.  I  do  not 
know  where  we  lived,  but  I  imagine  it  to  have  been  one 
of  the  vilest  nd  lowest  fiens  in  London,  though  the  rooms 
I  occupied  were,  for  that  matter,  decent  and  orderly 
enough.  Those  rooms  the  daylight  never  entered,  the 
windows  were  boarded  up  within,  and  fastened  by  shutters 
without,  so  that  of  the  world  beyond  I  was  as  ignorant 
as  a  child  ot  two  hours  old.  I  saw  but  two  human  faces, 
his  " — she  seemed  to  hate  him  too  much  even  to  pro- 
nounce his  name — "  and  his  housekeeper's,  a  creature  al- 
most as  vile  as  himself,  and  who  is  now  a  servant  here ; 
and  with  this  precious  pair  to  guard  me  I  grew  up  to  be 
fifteen  years  old.  JMy  outer  life  consisted  of  eating,  sleep- 
ing, reading — for  the  wretch  taught  me  to  read — playing 
with  my  dogs  and  birds,  and  listening  to  old  Margery's 
stories.  But  there  was  an  inward  life,  fierce  and  strong, 
as  it  was  rank  and  morbid,  lived  and  brooded  over  alone, 
when  Margery  and  her  master  fancied  me  sleeping  in 
idiotic  content.  How  were  they  to  know  that  the  creature 
they  had  reared  and  made  ever  had  a  thought  of  her  own 
— ever  wondered  who  she  was,  where  she  came  from,  what 
she  was  destined  to  be,  and  what  lay  in  the  great  world 
beyond  ?  The  crooked  little  monster  made  a  great  mis- 
take in  teaching  me  liow  to  read ;  he  should  have  known 
that  books  sow  seed  that  grow  up  and  flourish  tall  and 
green,  till  they  become  giants  in  strength.  I  knew  enough 
to  be  certain  there  was  a  bright  and  glad  world  without, 
from  which  they  shut  me  in  and  debarred  me;  and  I 
knew  enough  to  hate  them  both  for  it,  with  a  strong  and 
heartfelt  hatred,  only  second  to  what  I  feel  now." 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


U1 


She  stopped  for  a  moment,  and  fixed  her  dark,  gloomy 
eyes  on  the  swarming  floor,  and  shook  off,  without  a  shud- 
der, the  hideous  things  that  crawled  over  her  rich  dress. 
She  had  scarcely  looked  at  Sir  Norman  since  she  began  to 
speak,  but  he  had  done  enougli  looking  for  them  both, 
never  once  taking  his  eyes  from  the  handsome  darkening 
face.  He  thought  how  strangely  like  her  story  was  to 
Leoline's,  both  shut  in  and  isolated  from  the  outer  world. 
Verily,  destiny  seemed  to  have  woven  the  woof  and  warp 
of  tlioir  fates  wonderfully  together,  for  their  lives  were  as 
much  the  same  as  their  faces.  Miranda,  having  shook  off 
her  crawling  acquaintances,  watched  them  glancing  along 
the  foul  floor  in  the  darkness,  and  went  moodily  on. 

"  It  was  three  years  ago,  when  I  was  flft(^en  years  old, 
as  I  told  you,  that  a  change  took  place  in  my  life.  Up  to 
that  time  that  miserable  dwarf  was  what  people  would 
call  my  guardian,  and  did  not  ti'ouble  me  nmch  with 
his  heavenly  company.  He  was  a  great  deal  from  our 
house,  sometimes  absent  for  weeks  together;  and  I  remem- 
ber I  used  to  envy  the  freedom  with  which  he  came  and 
went,  far  more  than  I  ever  wondered  where  he  spent  his 
precious  time.  I  did  not  know  then  that  he  belonged  to 
the  honorable  profession  of  highwaymen,  with  variations 
of  coining  when  travelers  were  few  and  money  scarce. 
He  was  then,  and  is  still,  at  the  head  of  a  formidable  gang, 
over  which  he  wields  most  desperate  authority — as  per- 
haps you  have  noticed  during  the  brief  and  pleasant  period 
of  your  acquaintance." 

"  Really,  madam,  it  struck  me  that  your  authority  over 
them  was  much  more  despotic  than  his,"  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, in  all  sincerity,  feeling  called  upon  to  give  the — well, 
I'd  rather  not  repeat  the  word,  which  is  generally  spelled 
with  a  d  and  a  dash — his  due. 

"  No  thanks,  to  him  for  that  1  He  would  make  me  a 
slave  now  as  he  did  then,  if  he  dare  ;  but  he  has  found 
that  poor,  trodden  worm  as  I  was,  I  had  life  enough  left 
to  turn  and  sting." 

"  Which  you  do  with  a  vengeance  !  Oh !  you're  a  tar- 
tjir!"  remarked  Sir  Norman  to  himself.  "The  saints 
forefend  that  Leoline  should  be  like  you  in  temper  as  she 


148 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


is  in  history  and  face ;  for  if  she  is,  my  life  promises  to  be 
a  pleasant  one." 

**  This  rascally  crew  of  cut-throats,  whom  his  villainous 
highness  headed,"  said  Miranda,  "were  an  almost  im- 
mense number  then,  being  divided  in  three  bodies — Lon- 
don cut-purses,  Hounslow  Heath  highwaymen,  and  assist- 
ant coiners,  but  all  owning  him  for  their  lord  and  master. 
He  told  me  all  this  himself  one  day,  when,  in  an  after-din- 
ner and  most  gracious  mood,  he  made  a  boasting  display  of 
his  wealth  and  greatness ;  told  me  I  was  growing  up  very 
pretty  indeed,  and  that  I  was  shortly  to  be  raised  to  the 
honor,  and  dignity,  and  bliss  of  being  his  wife.  I  fancy  I 
must  have  had  a  very  vague  idea  of  what  that  one  small 
word  meant,  and  was,  besides,  in  an  unusually  contented 
and  peaceful  state  of  mind,  or  I  should,  undoubtedly,  have 
raised  one  of  his  cut-glass  decanters  and  smashed  in  his 
head  with  it.  I  know  how  I  should  receive  such  an  asser- 
tion from  him  now,  but  I  think  I  took  it  with  a  resigna- 
tion then,  he  must  have  found  mighty  edifying ;  and  when 
he  went  on  to  tell  me  that  all  this  richness  and  greatness 
were  to  be  shared  by  me  when  that  celestial  time  came,  I 
think  I  rather  liked  the  idea  than  otherwise.  The  hor- 
rible creature  seemed  to  have  woke  up  that  day,  for  the 
first  time,  and  all  of  a  sudden,  to  a  conviction  that  I  was 
in  a  fair  way  to  become  a  woman,  and  rather  a  handsome 
one,  and  that  he  had  better  make  sure  of  me  before  any 
accident  interfered  to  take  me  from  him.  Full  of  this 
laudable  notion,  he  became  a  daily  visitor  of  mine  from 
thenceforth,  and  made  the  discovery,  simultaneous  with 
myself,  that  the  oftener  he  o^^.me  the  less  favor  he  found 
in  my  sight.  I  had  before,  tacitly  disliked  him  and 
shrunk  with  a  natural  repulsion  from  his  dreadful  ugli- 
ness ;  but  now,  from  negative  dislike,  I  grew  to  positive 
hate.  The  utter  loathing  and  abhorrence  I  have  had  for 
hini  ever  since,  began  then — I  grew  dimly  and  intuitively 
conscious  of  what  he  would  make  me,  and  shrunk  f^om 
my  fate  with  a  vague  horror  not  to  be  told  in  words.  I 
became  strong  in  my  fearful  dread  of  it.  I  told  him  I  de- 
tested, abhorred,  loathed,  hated  liim  ;  that  he  might  keep 
his  riches,  greatness,  and  ungainly  self  for  those  who 
wanted  him :  thejr  were  temptutiou^  too  weak  to  move  m§. 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


149 


Of  course,  there  was  raving,  and  storming,  threatening, 
terrible  looks  and  denunciations,  and  I  quailed  and  shrunk 
like  a  coward,  but  was  obstinate  still.  Then  as  a  dernier 
ressort,  he  tried  another  bribe — the  glorious  one  of  liberty, 
and  the  one  he  knew  would  conquer  me,  and  it  did.  He 
promised  me  freedom — if  I  married  him  I  might  go  out 
mto  the  great  unknown  world,  fetterless  and  free  ;  and  I, 
oh  !  fool  that  I  was  I  consented.  Not  that  my  object  was 
to  stay  with  him  one  instant  longer,  after  my  prison  doors 
were  opened ;  no,  I  was  not  quite  so  besotted  as  that — 
once  out,  and  the  little  demon  might  look  for  me  with  last 
year's  partridges.  Of  course,  those  demoniac  eyes  read 
my  heart  like  an  open  book ;  and  when  I  pronounced  the 
fatal  *  yes,'  he  laughed  in  that  delightful  way  of  his  own, 
which  will  probably  be  the  last  thing  you  will  hear  when 
you  lay  your  head  under  the  ax. 

"  I  don't  know  who  the  clergyman  that  married  us  was ; 
but  he  was  a  clergyman ;  there  can  be  no  doubt  about 
that.  It  was  three  days  after,  and  for  the  first  time  in 
my  fifteen  years  of  life  I  stood  in  the  sunshine,  and 
daylight,  and  open  air.  We  drove  to  the  cathedral — for 
it  was  in  St.  Paul's  the  sacrilege  was  committed.  I  never 
could  have  walked  there,  I  was  so  stunned,  and  giddy,  and 
bewildered.  I  never  thought  of  the  marriage — I  could 
think  of  nothing  but  the  bright,  crashing,  sunshiny  world 
without,  till  I  was  led  up  before  the  clergyman,  with 
much  the  air,  I  suppose,  of  one  walking  in  her  sleep.  He 
was  a  very  young  man,  I  remember,  and  looked  from  the 
dwarf  to  me,  and  from  me  to  the  dwarf,  in  a  great  state  of 
fear  and  uncertainty,  but  evidently  not  daring  to  refuse. 
Margery  and  one  of  his  gang  were  our  only  attendants, 
and  there,  in  God's  temple,  the  deed  was  done,  and  1 
was  made  the  miserable  thing  I  am  to-day." 

The  suppressed  passion,  rising  and  throbbing  like  a 
white  flame  in  her  face  and  eyes,  made  her  stop  for  a  mo- 
ment, breathing  hard.  Looking  up  she  met  Sir  Norman's 
gaze  and  as  if  there  was  something  in  its  quiet,  pitying 
tenderness  that  mesmerized  her  into  calm,  she  steadily 
and  rapidly  went  on. 

"  I  awoke  to  a  new  life  after  that ;  but  not  to  one  of 
freedom  and  happiness.    I  was  as  closely,  even  more 


160 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I 


closely,  guarded  than  ever ;  and  I  found,  when  too  late, 
that  I  had  bartered  myself,  soul  and  body,  for  an  empty 
promise.  The  only  difference  was,  that  I  saw  more  new 
faces ;  for  the  dwarf  began  to  bring  his  confederates  and 
subordinates  to  the  house,  and  would  have  me  dressed  up 
and  displayed  to  them,  with  a  demoniac  pride  that  re- 
volted me  beyond  everything  else,  as  if  I  were  a  painted 
puppet  or  an  overgrown  wax  doll.  Most  lI  the  precious 
crew  of  cut- throats  had  wives  of  their  own — some  of  them 
a  trifle  of  five  or  six,  according  to  their  fancy ;  and  these 
began  to  be  brought  with  them  of  an  evening ;  and  then, 
what  with  dancing,  and  music,  and  cards,  and  feasting,  we 
had  quite  a  carnival  of  it  till  morning.  I  liked  this  part 
of  the  business  excessively  well  at  first,  and  I  was  flat- 
tered and  fooled  to  the  top  of  my  bent,  and  made,  from 
the  first,  the  reigning  belle  and  queen.  There  was  more 
policy  in  that  than  admiration,  I  fancy ;  for  the  dwarf 
was  all-powerful  among  them,  and  dreaded  accordingly, 
and  I  was  the  dwarf's  pet  and  plaything,  and  all-power- 
ful with  him.  The  hideous  creature  had  a  most  hideous 
passion  for  me  then,  and  I  could  wind  him  round  my  fin- 
ger as  easily  as  Delilah  did  Samson;  and  by  his  com- 
mand and  their  universal  consent,  the  mimicry  of  royalty 
was  begun,  and  I  was  made  mistress  and  sovereign  head, 
even  over  the  dwarf  himself.  It  was  a  queer  whim ;  but 
that  crooked  slug  was  always  taking  such  odd  notions  into 
his  head,  which  nobody  there  dared  laugh  at.  The  band 
were  bound  together  by  a  terrible  oath,  women  and  all ; 
but  they  had  to  take  another  oath  then,  that  of  allegiance 
to  me.  It  quite  turned  my  brain  at  first ;  and  my  eyes 
were  so  dazzled  by  the  pitiful  glistening  of  the  pageant, 
the  sham  splendor  of  the  sham  court,  and  the  half-mocking, 
half-serious  homage  paid  me,  that  I  could  see  nothing  be- 
yond the  shining  surface,  and  the  blackness,  and  corrup- 
tion, and  horror  within,  were  altogether  lost  upon  me. 
This  feeling  increased  when,  as  months  and  months  went 
by,  there  were  added  to  the  mock  peers  of  the  Midnight 
Court,  real  nobles  from  that  of  St.  Charles.  I  did  not 
know  then  that  they  were  ruined  gamesters,  vicious  profli- 
gates, and  desperate  broken-down  roues,  who  would  have 
gone  to  pandemonium  itself,  nightly,  for  the  mad  licensQ 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


161 


It 


and  lawless  excesses  they  could  indulge  in  here  to  their 
heart's  content.  But  I  got  tired  of  it  all  after  a  time  ;  my 
eyes  began  slowly  to  open,  and  my  heart — at  least,  wliat 
little  of  that  article  I  ever  had — turned  sick  with  hor- 
ror within  me  at  what  I  had  done.  The  awful  things 
I  saw,  the  fearful  deeds  that  were  perpetrated,  would 
curdle  your  very  blood  with  horror  were  I  to  relate  Iheni. 
You  have  seen  a  specimen  yourself,  in  the  cold-blooded 
murder  of  that  wretch,  half  an  hour  ago ;  and  his  is  not 
the  only  life  crying  for  vengeance  on  these  nun.  The 
slightest  violation  of  their  oath  was  punished,  and  the 
doom  of  traitors  and  informers  was  instant  death,  whether 
male  or  female.  The  sham  trials  and  executions  always 
took  place  in  presence  of  the  whole  court,  to  strike  a  salu- 
tary horror  into  them,  and  never  occurred  but  once  a  week, 
when  the  whole  band  regularly  met.  My  power  con- 
tinued undiminished ;  for  they  knew  either  the  dwarf  or  I 
must  be  supreme ;  and  though  the  queen  was  bad,  the 
prince  was  worse.  The  said  prince  would  willingly  have 
pulled  me  down  from  my  eminence,  and  have  mounted  it 
himself ;  but  that  he  was  probably  restrained  by  a  feeling 
that  law-makers  should  not  be  law-breakers,  and  that,  if 
he  set  the  example,  there  would  be  no  end  to  the  insubor- 
dination and  rebellion  that  would  follow." 

"Were  you  living  here  or  in  London,  then?"  inquired 
Sir  Norman,  taking  an  advantage  of  a  pause,  employed  by 
Miranda  in  shaking  off  the  crawling  beetles. 

"  Oh,  in  London !  We  did  not  come  here  until  the  out- 
break of  the  plague — that  frightened  them,  especially  the 
female  portion,  and  they  held  a  scared  meeting,  and  re- 
solved that  we  should  take  up  our  quarters  somewhere 
else.  This  place  being  old  and  ruined,  and  deserted,  and 
with  all  sorts  of  evil  rumors  hanging  about  it,  was  hit 
upon ;  and  secretly,  by  night,  these  moldering  old  vaults 
were  fitted  up,  and  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the  royal 
court  removed.  And  here  I,  too,  was  brought  by  night 
under  the  dwarf's  own  eye  ;  for  he  well  knew  I  would 
have  risked  a  thousand  plagues  to  escape  from  hin^..  And 
here  I  have  been  ever  since,  and  here  the  weekly  revels 
are  still  held,  and  may  for  years  to  come,  unless  something 
ig  4pnQ  to-ni^lit  to  prevent  it;.    The  night  before   t,hf,a^ 


1^  ^ 


'! 


,  ■  i 


!1 

1         ';    i 


152 


■■m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN*. 


weekly  anniversaries  they  all  gather  ;  but  during  the  rest 
of  the  time  I  am  alone  with  Margery  and  the  dwarf,  ana 
have  learned  more  secrets  about  this  place  than  they  dream 
of.  For  the  rest,  there  is  little  need  of  explanation — the 
dwarf  and  his  crew  have  industriously  circulated  the 
rumor  that  it  is  haunted  ;  and  some  of  those  white  figures 
you  saw  with  me,  and  who,  by  the  way,  are  the  daughters 
of  these  robbers,  have  been  shown  on  the  broken  battle- 
ments, as  if  to  put  the  fact  beyond  doubt.  Now,  Sir  Nor- 
man, that  is  all — you  have  heard  my  whole  history  as  far 
as  I  know  it ;  and  nothing  remains  but  to  tell  you  what 
you  must  see  yourself,  that  I  am  mad  for  revenge,  and 
must  have  it,  and  you  must  help  me  ! " 

Her  eyes  were  sliining  with  the  fierce  red  fire  he  had 
seen  in  them  before,  and  the  white  face  wore  a  look  so 
deadly  and  diabolical  that,  with  all  its  beauty,  it  was  ab- 
solutely repulsive.  He  took  a  step  from  her — for  in  each 
of  those  gleaming  eyes  sat  a  devil. 

"  You  must  help  me ! "  she  persisted.  "  You — you,  Sir 
Norman  !  For  many  a  day  I've  been  waiting  for  a  chance 
like  this,  and  until  now  I  have  waited  in  vain.  Alone,  I 
want  physical  strength  to  kill  him,  and  I  dare  not  trust 
any  one  else.  No  one  was  ever  cast  among  us  before  as 
you  have  been ;  and  now,  condemned  to  die,  you  must  be 
be  desperate,  and  desperate  men  will  do  desperate  things. 
Fate,  Destiny,  Providence,  whatever  you  like,  has  thrown 
you  in  my  way,  and  help  me  you  must  and  shall  I " 

"Madam,  madam !  what  are  you  saying?  How  can  I 
help  you ! " 

"  There  is  but  one  wav — this  I " 

She  held  up  in  the  pale  ray  of  the  lamp  something  she 
drew  from  the  folds  of  her  dress,  that  glistened  blue,  and 
bright,  and  steely  in  the  gloom.  -^ 

"  A  dagger  ! "  he  exclaimed,  with  a  shudder,  and  a  re- 
coil.   "  Madam,  are  you  talking  of  murder  ?  " 

"  I  told  you  1 "  she  said,  through  her  closed  teeth,  and 
with  her  eyes  flaming  like  fire,  "  that  ridding  the  earth  of 
that  fiend  incarnate  would  be  a  good  deed,  and  no  mur- 
der !  I  would  do  it  myself  if  I  could  take  him  off  his 
guard ;  but  he  never  is  that  with  me ;  and  then  my  arm  is 
HQt  strong  enough  to  reach  his  black  h^art  through  all 


(• 


in 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


15a 


if 


that  mass  of  brawn,  and  blood,  and  muscle.  No,  Sir 
Norman,  Doom  has  allotted  it  to  you — ol)ey,  and  I  swear 
to  you,  you  shall  go  free:  refuse — and  in  tin  minutes 
your  head  will  roll  under  the  executioner's  ax !  " 

"  Better  that  than  the  freedom  you  offer !  Madam,  1 
cannot  murder ! " 

"  Coward !  "  she  passionately  cried ;  "  you  fear  to  do  it, 
and  yet  you  have  but  a  life  to  lose,  and  that  is  lost  to  you 
now ! " 

Sir  Norman  raised  his  head  ;  and  even  in  the  darkness 
she  saw  the  haughty  Hush  that  crimsoned  his  face. 

"  I  fear  no  man  living ;  but,  madam,  I  fear  One  who  is 
higher  than  man  I  " 

"  But  you  will  die  if  you  refuse  ;  and  I  repeat,  again  and 
again,  there  is  no  risk.  These  guards  will  not  let  yni 
out ;  but  there  are  more  ways  of  leaving-  a  room  tli  in 
through  the  door,  and  I  can  lead  you  up  behind  the 
tapestry  to  where  lie  is  standing,  and  you  can  stab  him 
through  the  back,  and  escape  with  me !  Quick,  quick, 
there  is  no  time  to  lose  I" 

"  I  cannot  do  it !  "  he  said,  resolutely,  drawing  back  and 
and  folding  his  arms.     "  In  short,  I  Avill  not  do  it." 

There  was  such  a  terrible  look  in  the  beautiful  eyes, 
that  he  half-expected  to  see  her  spring  at  him  like  a  wild- 
cat, and  bury  the  dagger  in  his  own  breast.  But  the  rule 
of  life  works  by  contraries ;  expect  a  blow  and  you  will 
get  a  kiss,  look  for  an  embrace,  and  you  will  be  startled 
by  a  kick.  When  the  virago  spoke,  her  voice  was  calm, 
compared  with  what  it  had  been  before,  even  mild. 

"  You  refuse  ?  Well,  a  wilful  man  must  have  his  way ; 
and  since  you  are  so  qualmish  about  a  little  blood-letting, 
we  must  try  another  plan.  If  I  release  you,  for  short  as 
the  time  is,  I  can  do  it — will  you  promise  me  to  go  direct 
to  the  king  this  very  night,  and  inform  him  of  all  you've 
seen  and  heard  here  ?  " 

•  She  looked  at  him  with  an  eagerness  that  was  almost 
fierce  ;  and  in  spite  of  her  steady  voice,  there  was  some- 
thing throbbing  and  quivering,  deadly  and  terrible,  in 
her  upturned  face.  The  form  she  looked  at  was  erect 
and  immovalile,  the  eyes  were  cjnictly  resolved,  the  mouth 
half-pityingly,  h:ilf-sadly  smiling. 


w 


mmm 


154 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  Are  you  .aware,  dear  lady,  what  the  result  of  such  a 
step  would  be  ?  " 

"  Death  I  "  she  said,  coldly. 

"Death,  tiansportation,  or  lifelong  imprisonment  to 
them  all — misery  and  disgrace  to  many  a  noble  house  ;  for 
some  I  saw  tliere  were  once  friends  of  mine,  with  families 
I  lionor  and  respect.  Could  I  bring  the  dwarf  and  his  at- 
tendant imps  to  Tyburn,  and  treat  them  to  a  hempen  cra- 
vat, I  would  do  it  without  remorse — though  the  notion  of 
being  informer,  even  then,  would  not  be  very  pleasant ; 
but  as  it  is,  I  cannot  be  the  death  of  one  without  ruining 
all,  and  as  I  told  you,  some  of  those  were  once  my  friends. 
No,  madam,  I  cannot  do  it.  I  have  but  once  to  die,  and  I 
prefer  death  here  to  purchasing  life  at  such  a  price." 


!  I 


There  was  a  short  silence,  during  which  they  gazed 
into  each  other's  eyes  ominously,  and  one  was  about  as 
colorless  as  the  other.    Then — 

"  You  refuse  ?  "  she  coldly  said. 

"  I  must  I  But  if  you  can  save  my  life,  as  you  say,  why, 
not  do  it,  and  fly  with  me  ?  You  will  find  me  the  truest 
and  most  grateful  of  friends,  while  life  remains." 

"  You  are  very  kind ;  but  I  want  no  friendship.  Sir  Nor- 
man— ^nothing  but  revenge !  As  to  escaping,  I  could  have 
done  that  any  time,  since  we  came  here,  for  I  have  found 
out  a  secret  means  of  exit  from  each  of  these  vaults,  that 
they  know  nothing  of.  But  I  have  stayed  to  see  him  dead 
at  my  feet — if  not  by  my  hand,  at  least,  by  my  command ; 
and  since  you  will  not  do  it  I  will  make  the  attempt  my- 
self. Farewell,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley;  before  many 
minutes  you  will  be  a  helpless  corpse,  and  your  blood  be 
upon  yourself  I " 

She  gave  him  a  glance  as  coldly  fierce  as  her  dagger's 
glance,  and  turned  to  go,  when  he  stepped  hastily  for- 
ward and  interposed. 

"Miranda — Miranda — you  are  crazed  I  Stop  and  tell 
me  what  you  intend  to  do." 

"  What  you  feared  to  attempt,"  she  haughtily  replied  5 
§h§athe  this  dagger  in  his  demon  li^^^rt  I " 


IN  THE  DUNGEON. 


156 


)r- 
3II 


"Miranda,  give  me  the  dagger.  You  must  not,  you 
shall  not,  eoniinit  such  a  crime  ! " 

"  Shall  not  ?  she  uttered  scornfully.  "  And  who  are 
you  that  dares  to  spealc  to  me  like  this  ?  Stand  aside, 
coward,  and  let  me  pass  I 

"  Pardon  me,  but  I  cannot,  while  you  hold  that  dagger. 
Give  it  to  me,  and  you  shall  go  free ;  but,  while  you  hold 
it  with  this  intention,  for  your  own  sake,  I  will  detain 
you  till  some  one  comes." 

She  uttered  a  low,  fierce  cry,  and  struck  at  him  with  it, 
but  he  caught  her  hand,  and  with  sudden  force  snatched 
it  from  her.  In  doing  so  he  was  obliged  to  hold  it  with 
its  point  towards  her,  and  struggling  for  it  in  a  sort  of 
frenzy,  as  he  raised  the  hand  that  held  it,  she  slipped 
forward  and  it  was  driven  half-way  to  the  hilt  in  her 
side.  There  was  a  low,  gasping  cry — a  sudden  clasping 
of  both  hands  over  her  heart,  a  sway,  a  reel,  and  she  fell 
headlong  prostrate  on  ihe  loathsome  floor. 

Sir  Norman  stood  paralyzed.  She  half-raised  herself 
on  her  elbow,  drew  the  dagger  from  the  wound,  and  a 
great  jet  of  blood  shot  up  and  crimsoned  her  hands.  She 
did  not  faint — there  seemed  to  be  a  deathless  energy 
within  her  that  chained  life  strongly  in  its  place — she 
only  pressed  both  hands  hard  over  the  wound,  and  looked 
mournfully  and  reproachfully  up  in  his  face.  Those 
beautiful,  sad,  solemn  eyes,  void  of  everything  savage 
and  fierce  were  truly  Leoline's  eyes  now.  Through  all  his 
first  shock  of  horror  another  thing  dawned  on  his  mind :  he 
had  looked  on  this  scene  before.  It  was  the  second  view 
in  La  Masque's  caldron,  and  but  one  remained  to  be 
verified.  The  next  instant  he  was  down  on  his  knees  in 
a  paroxysm  of  grief  and  despair. 

What  have  I  done  ?  what  have  I  done  ?  "  was  his  cry. 

**  Listen  I  "  she  said,  faintly,  raising  one  finger.  "  Do 
you  hear  that  ?  " 

Distant  steps  were  echoing  along  the  passag'  Yes ; 
he  heard  them,  and  knew  what  they  were. 

"  They  are  coming  to  lead  you  to  death  I "  she  said, 
with  some  of  her  old  fire ;  "  but  I  will  baffle  them  yet. 
Take  that  lamp — go  to  the  wall  yonder,  and  in  that  cor- 
ner, near  the  floor,  you  wUl  see  a  small  iron  rmg.    PuU 


156 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEK. 


1^1 


it — it  does  not  require  much  force — and  you  will  find  an 
opening  leading  through  anotlier  vault ;  at  the  end  there 
is  a  broken  flight  of  stairs,  mount  them,  and  you  will  find 
yourself  in  the  same  place  from  which  you  fell.  Fly,  fly  1 
There  is  not  a  second  to  lose ! " 

"  1  low  can  I  fly  ?  how  can  I  leave  you  dying  here  ? ' 

"  I  am  not  dying  I  "  she  wildly  cried,  lifting  both  hands 
Vom  the  wound  to  push  him  away,  while  the  blood 
liowed  over  the  floor.  "  But  we  will  both  die  if  you  stay. 
Go — go — go  I " 

The  footsteps  had  paused  at  his  door.  The  bolts  were 
beginning  to  be  withdrawn.  He  lifted  the  lamp,  flew 
across  his  prison,  found  the  ring,  and  took  a  pull  at  it 
with  desperate  strength.  Part  of  what  appeared  to  be 
the  solid  wall  drew  out,  disci osing  an  aperture  through 
which  he  could  just  squeeze  sideways.  Quick  as  thought 
he  was  through,  forgetting  the  lamp  in  his  ha:  :e.  The 
portion  of  the  wall  slid  noiselessly  back,  just  as  the 
prison-door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  dwarf's  voice  was 
heard,  socially  inviting  him,  like  Mrs.  Bond's  ducks,  to 
come  and  be  killed.  . 

Some  people  talk  of  darkness  so  palpable  that  it  may 
be  felt,  and,  if  ever  any  one  was  qualified  to  tell  from  ex- 
perience what  it  felt  like,  Sir  Norman  was  in  that  precise 
condition  at  that  precise  period.  lie  groped  his  way 
through  the  blind  darkness  along  what  seen.^d  an  inter- 
minable distance,  and  stumbled,  at  last,  over  the  broken 
stairs  at  the  end.  With  some  difficulty,  and  at  the  seri- 
ous risk  of  his  jugular,  he  mounted  them,  and  found  him- 
self, as  Miranda  had  stated,  in  a  place  he  knew  very  well. 
Once  here,  he  allowed  no  grass  to  grow  under  his  feet ; 
and  in  five  minutes  after,  to  his  great  delight,  he  found 
himself  Avhere  he  had  never  hoped  to  be  again — in  the 
serene  moonlight  and  the  open  air,  fetterless  and  free. 
His  horse  was  still  where  he  had  left  him,  and  in  a  twink- 
ling he  was  on  his  back,  and  dashing  away  to  the  city, 
to  love — to  Leolme  I  ^ 


LEOLINE'S  VISITORS. 


167 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Ld 
Ihe 

je. 
Ik- 


leolink's  visitors. 

If  things  were  done  twice — but  they  are  not,  and  never 
will  be,  while  this  whirligig  world  of  mistakes  spins 
round,  and  all  Adam's  cliildren,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter, 
will  continue  sinning  to-day  and  repenting  to-morrow, 
falling  the  next  and  bewailing  it  the  day  after.  If  Leoline 
had  gone  to  bed  directly,  like  a  good,  dutiful  little  girl, 
as  Sir  Norman  ordered  her,  she  would  have  saved  her- 
self a  good  deal  of  tiouble  and  tears ;  but  Leoline  and 
sleep  were  destined  to  shake  hands  and  turn  their  backs 
on  each  other  that  night.  It  was  time  for  all  honest  folks 
to  be  in  bed,  and  the  dark-eyed  beauty  knew  it,  too,  but 
she  had  no  notion  of  going,  nevertheless.  She  stood  in 
the  center  of  the  room,  where  he  had  left  her,  with  a  spot 
like  a  scarlet  roseberry  on  either  cheek  ;  a  soft,  half-smile 
on  the  perfect  mouth  and  a  light,  inexpressibly  tender 
and  dreamy,  in  those  Artesian  wells  of  beauty — her  eyes. 
Most  young  girls  of  green  and  tender  years,  suffering 
from  "  Love's  young  dream,"  and  that  sort  of  thing,  have 
just  that  soft,  shy,  brooding  look,  whenever  their  thoughts 
happen  to  turn  to  their  particular  beloved  ;  and  there  are 
few  eyes  so  ugly  that  it  does  not  beautify,  even  should 
tliey  be  as  cross  as  two  sticks.  You  should  have  seen 
Leoline  standing  in  the  center  of  her  pretty  room,  witli 
her  bright  rose-satin  glancing,  and  glittering  and  flowing 
over  rug  and  mat ;  with  her  black  waving  hair  clustering 
and  curling  like  shining  floss  sillc ;  with  a  rich  white 
shimmer  of  pearls  on  the  pale  smooth  forehead  and  large 
beautiful  arms.  She  did  look  irresistibly  be\vitching,  be 
yond  doubt ;  and  it  was  just  as  well  for  Sir  Norman's 
peace  of  mind  that  he  did  not  see  her,  for  he  was  bad 
^jiiougli  without  that.     So  she  stood  thinking  tenderly  of 


r 


158 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


! 


! 

! 


I 


him  for  a  half-hour  or  bo,  quite  undisturbed  by  the  storm ; 
and  how  strange  it  was  that  she  had  risen  up  that  very 
morning  expecting  to  be  one  man's  bride,  and  that  she 
should  rise  up  the  next,  expecting  to  be  another's.  She 
could  not  realize  it  at  all ;  and  with  a  little  sigh — half- 
pleasure,  half-presentiment — she  walked  to  the  window, 
drew  the  curtain,  and  looked  out  at  the  night.  All  w;is 
peaceful  and  serene ;  the  moon  was  full  to  overflowing, 
and  a  great  deal  of  extra  light  ran  over  the  brim ;  quit(>  a 
(juantity  of  stars  were  out,  and  were  winking  pleasantly 
down  at  the  dark  little  planet  below,  that  went  round 
and  round  with  grim  stoicism,  and  paid  no  attention  to 
anybody's  business  but  its  own.  She  saw  the  heaps  of 
black,  cliarred  ashes  that  the  rush  of  rain  had  quenched ; 
she  saw  the  still  and  empty  street ;  the  frowning  row  of 
gloomy  houses  opposite,  and  the  man  on  guard  before 
one  of  them.  She  had  watched  that  man  all  day,  think- 
ing, with  a  sick  shudder,  of  the  plague-stricken  prisoners 
lie  gu irded,  and  reading  its  piteous  inscription.  "Lord, 
lisive  mercy  on  us !  "  till  the  words  seemed  branded  on  her 
brain.  While  she  looked  now,  an  upper  window  was 
opened,  a  night-cap  was  thrust  out  and  a  voice  from  its 
cavernous  depths  hailed  the  guard. 

"  Robert  I     I  say,  Robert  I " 

"  Well  ?  "  said  Robert,  looking  up. 

"  Master  and  Missus  be  gone  at  last,  and  the  rest  won't 
live  till  morning." 

"  Won't  they  ?  "  said  Robert,  phlegmatically ;  "  what  a 
pity  !  Get  'em  ready,  and  I'll  stop  the  dead-cart  when  it 
coines  round." 

Just  as  he  spoke,  the  well-known  rattle  of  wheels,  the 
loud  ringing  of  the  bell,  and  the  monotonous  cry  of  the 
driver,  "Bring  out  your  dead!  bring  out  your  dead!" 
echoed  on  the  pale  night's  silence  ;  and  the  pest-cart  came 
rumbling  and  jolting  along  with  its  load  of  death.  The 
watchman  hailed  the  driver,  according  to  promise,  and 
they  entered  the  house  together,  brought  out  one  long, 
white  figure,  and  then  another,  and  threw  tliem  on  top  of 
the  ghastly  heap. 

"  We'll  have  three  more  for  you  in  an  hour  or  so — don't 
forget  to  come  round,"  suggested  the  watchman. 


LEOLINE'S  VISITORS. 


150 


the 
bhe 

Ime 

bd 

of 


"All  riglit!"  said  the  driver,  as  he  took  his  place, 
whipped  his  horse,  rung  his  bell,  and  jogged  along  non- 
chalantly to  the  plague-pit. 

Sick  at  heart,  Leoline  dropped  the  curtain,  and  turned 
round  to  see — somebody  else  standing  at  her  elbow.  She 
had  been  quite  alone  when  she  looked  out :  she  was  alone 
no  longer ;  there  had  been  no  noise,  yet  some  one  had  en- 
tered, and  was  standing  beside  her.  A  tivU  figure,  all  in 
black,  with  its  sweeping  velvet  rolxjs  spangled  with  stars 
of  golden  rubies,  a  perfect  figure  of  incomparable  grace 
and  beauty.  It  had  worn  a  cloak  that  had  dropped  liglitly 
from  its  shoulders,  and  lay  on  the  floor,  and  the  long  hair 
streamed  in  darkness  over  shoulder  and  waist.  The  face 
was  masked,  the  form  stood  erect  and  perfectly  motionless, 
and  the  scream  of  surprise  and  consternation  that  arose 
to  Leoline's  lips  died  out  in  wordless  terror.  Her  noise- 
less visitor  preceived  it,  and  touching  her  arm  lightly  with 
one  little  white  hand,  said  in  her  sweetest  and  most  ex- 
quisite of  tones. 

**  My  child,  do  not  tremble  so,  and  do  not  look  so  deathly 
white.    You  know  me,  do  you  not  ?  " 

"  You  are  La  Masque  ? "  said  Leoline,  trembling  with 
nervous  dread. 

"  I  am,  and  no  stranger  to  you :  though  perhaps  you 
think  so.  Is  it  your  habit  every  night  to  look  out  of  your 
window  in  full  dress  until  morning  ?  " 

"How  did  you  enter?"  asked  Leoline,  her  curiosity 
overcoming  for  a  moment  even  her  fear. 

"  Through  the  door.  Not  a  difficult  thing,  either,  if  you 
leave  it  wide  open  every  night,  as  it  is  this." 

"  Was  it  open  ?  "  said  Leoline,  in  dismay.  "  I  never 
knew  it." 

"  Ah !  then  it  was  not  you  why  went  out  last.  Who 
was  it?"     - 

"It  was — was — "  Leoline's  cheeks  were  scarlet;  "it 
was  a  friend! " 

"  A  somewhat  late  hour  for  one's  friends  to  visit  them," 
said  La  Masque,  sarcastically;  "and  you  should  learn 
the  precaution  of  seeing  them  to  the  door  and  fastening  it 
after  them." 

^  Keat  assured  I  shall  do  so  for  the  future,"  said  Leoline, 


160 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


^il 


I 


with  a  look  that  would  have  reminded  Sir  Norman  of 
Miranda,  had  he  seen  it.  "  I  scarcely  expected  the  honor 
of  any  more  visits,  particularly  Iroui  strangers,  t^-night." 

"  Civil,  that !  Will  you  ask  nie  to  sit  down,  or  am  I  to 
consider  myself  an  unseasonable  intruder,  and  depart  ?  " 

"  Madame,  will  you  do  me  the  honor  to  be  seated.  The 
hour,  as  you  say,  is  somewhat  unseasonable,  and  you  will 
oblige  me  by  letting  me  know  to  what  I  am  indebted  fcr 
the  pleasure  of  this  visit,  as  quickly  as  possible." 

There  was  something  quite  dignified  about  Mistress 
Leoline,  as  she  swept  rustling  past  La  Masque,  sunk  into 
the  pillowy  depths  of  her  lounge,  and  motioned  her  visitor 
to  a  seat  with  a  slight  and  graceful  wave  of  her  hand. 
Not  but  that  in  her  secret  heart  she  was  a  good  deal 
frightened,  for  something  under  her  pink  satin  corsage 
was  going  pit-a-pat  at  a  wonderful  rate ;  but  she  thought 
that  betraying  such  a  feeling  would  not  be  the  thing. 
Perhaps  the  tall,  dark  figure  saw  it,  and  smiled  behind  her 
mask  ;  but  outwardly  she  only  leaned  lightly  against  the 
back  of  the  chair,  and  glanced  discreetly  at  the  door: 

"  Are  you  sure  we  are  quite  alone  ?  " 

"Quite." 

"  Because,"  said  La  Masque,  in  her  low,  silvery  tones, 
"  What  I  have  come  to  say  is  not  for  the  ears  of  any  third 
person  living." 

"We  are  entirely  alone.  Madam,"  replied  Leoline, 
opening  her  black  eyes  very  wide.  "  Prudence  is  gone, 
and  I  do  not  know  when  she  will  be  back." 

"Prudence  will  never  come  back,"  said  La  Masque 
quietly. 

"  Madame  I " 

"  My  dear,  do  not  look  so  shocked — it  is  none  of  her 
fault.    You  know  she  deserted  you  for  fear  of  the  plague." 

"  Yes,  yes ! " 

"  Well,  that  did  not  save  her ;  nay,  it  even  brought  on 
what  she  dreaded  so  much.  Your  nurse  is  plague- stricken, 
my  dear,  and  lies  ill  unto  death  in  the  pest-house  in  Fins- 
bury  Fields." 

"  Oh,  dreadful ! "  exclaimed  Leoline,  while  every  drop 
of  blood  fled  from  her  face.     "•  My  poor,  poor  old  nurse  1 " 

"Your  poor,  poor  old  nurse  left  you  without  uiucU 


LEOLINE'S  VISITORS. 


161 


)f  her 
igue." 

it  on 
licken, 
Fins- 
drop 
bse ! " 
liiiUcU 


tenderness  when  she  thought  you  dying  of  the  same  dis- 
ease," said  La  Masque,  quietiy. 

"Oh,  that  is  nothing.  The  suddenness,  the  shock 
drove  her  to  it.     My  poor,  dear  Prudence." 

"  Well,  you  can  do  nothing  for  her  now,"  said  La  Mas- 
que, in  a  tone  of  slight  impatience.  "  Prudence  is  beyond 
all  human  aid,  and  so — let  her  rest  in  peace  You  were 
carried  to  the  plague-pit  yourself,  for  dead,  were  you 
not?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  pale  lips,  wh* le  she  shivered  all 
over  at  the  recollection. 

«  And  was  saved  by — who  were  you  saved  by,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  By  two  gentlemen." 

"  Oh,  I  know  that ;  what  were  their  names  ?  " 

"  One  was  Mr.  Ormiston,  the  other  was,"  hesitating  and 
blushing  vividly,  "  Sir  Norman  Kingsley." 

La  Masque  leaned  across  her  chair,  and  laid  one  dainty 
finger  lightly  on  the  girl's  hot  cheek. 

"  And  for  which  is  that  blush,  Leoline  ?  " 

"  Madame,  was  it  only  to  ask  me  questions  you  came 
here  ?  "  said  Leoline,  drawing  proudly  back,  though  the 
hot  red  spot  grew  hotter  and  redder ;  "  if  so,  you  will  ex- 
cuse my  declining  to  answer  any  more." 

**  Child,  child  I "  said  La  Masque,  in  a  tone  so  strangely 
sad  that  it  touched  Leoline  ;  "  do  not  be  angry  with  me. 
It  is  no  idle  curiosity  that  sent  me  here  at  this  hour  to 
ask  impertinent  questions,  but  a  claim  that  I  have  upon 
you,  stronger  than  that  of  any  one  else  in  the  world." 

Leoline's  beautiful  eyes  opened  wider  yet. 

"A  claim  upon  me  I  How?  why?  I  do  not  under- 
stand." 

"  All  in  good  time.  Will  you  tell  me  something  of 
your  past  history,  Leoline  ?  " 

«  Madame  Masque,  I  have  no  history  to  tell.  All  my 
life  I  have  lived  alone  with  Prudence ;  that  is  the  whole 
of  it  ii  nine  words." 

La  Masque  half  laughed. 

"  Short,  sharp,  and  decisive.  Had  you  never  a  father 
or  mother  ?  " 

♦*  There  is  a  slight  probability  I  may  have  had  at  some 


162 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I'. 


'I 


past  period,"  said  Leoline,  sighing ;  "  but  none  that  I  eVer 
knew." 

"  Why  does  not  Prudence  tell  you  ?  " 

"  Prudence  is  only  my  nurse,  and  says  she  has  nothing 
to  tell.  My  parents  died  when  I  was  an  infant,  and  left 
me  in  her  care — that  is  her  story." 

"  A  likely  one  enough,  and  yet  I  see  by  your  face  that 
you  doubt  it." 

"  I  do  doubt  it !  There  are  a  thousand  little  outward 
things  that  make  me  fancy  it  is  false,  and  an  inward  voice 
that  assures  me  it  is  so." 

"  Then  let  me  tell  you  that  inward  voice  tells  false- 
hoods, for  I  know  that  your  father  and  mother  are  both 
dead  these  fourteen  years  I  " 

Leoline's  great  black  eyes  were  fixed  on  her  face  with 
a  look  so  wild  and  eager,  that  La  Masque  laid  her  hand 
lightly  and  soothingly  on  her  shoulder. 

"  Don't  look  at  me  with  such  a  spectral  face  !  What  is 
there  so  extraordinary  in  all  I  have  said  ?  " 

"  You  said  you  knew  my  father  and  mother." 

"  No  such  thing !  I  said  I  knew  they  were  dead,  but 
tht  other  fact  is  true  also;  I  did  know  them  when 
living." 

"  Madame,  who  are  you  ?    Who  were  they  ?  " 

"  Me  ?  Oh,  I  am  La  Masque,  the  sorceress,  and  they — 
they  were  Leoline's  father  and  mother  !  "  and  again  La 
Masque  slightly  laughed. 

"  You  mock  me,  madame?"  cried  Leoline,  passionately. 
«  You  are  cruel — you  are  heartless !  If  you  know  any- 
thing, in  Heaven's  name  tell  me — if  not,  go  and  leave  me 
in  peace ! " 

"  Thank  you !  I  shall  do  that  presently ;  and  as  to  the 
other — of  course  I  shall  tell  you ;  what  else  do  you  sup- 
pose I  liave  come  for  to-night?  Look  here!  Do  you  see 
this?" 

She  drew  out  from  some  hidden  pocket  in  her  dress  a 
small  and  beautifully  wrought  casket  of  ivory  and  silver, 
with  straps  and  clasps  of  silver,  and  a  tiny  key  of  the 
same. 

"  Well  ?  "  asked  Leoline,  looking  from  it  to  her,  witU 
the  blank  air  of  one  utterly  at  a  loss. 


LEOLINE'S  VISITORS. 


168 


ever 


hing 
[  left 

that 

ward 
v^oice 

alse- 
both 

with 
hand 

lat  is 


,  but 
vhen 


ey— 
n  La 

tely. 
my- 
i  me 

►  the 
siip- 
i  see 

ss  a 
vei% 
the 

;7ith 


"In  this  casket,  my  dear,  there  is  a  roll  of  papers, 
closely  written,  which  you  are  to  read  as  soon  as  I  leave 
you.  Those  papers  contain  your  whole  history — do  you 
understand  ?  " 

She  was  looking  so  white  and  staring  so  hard  and  so 
hopelessly,  that  there  was  no  need  of  the  question.  She 
took  the  casket  and  gazed  at  it  with  a  bewildered  air. 

"My  child,  have  your  thoughts  gone  wool-gatherii  p  "; 
Do  you  not  comprehend  what  I  have  said  to  you  ?  Yii.i 
whole  history  is  hid  in  that  box  ?  " 

« I  know,"  said  Leoline,  slowly,  and  with  her  eyes  again 
riveted  to  the  black  mask.    "  But,  madame,  who  are  you  ?  " 

«  Have  I  not  told  you  ?  What  a  pretty  in(iuisit()r  it  is! 
I  am  La  IVIasque — your  frif3nd,  now;  something  moro 
soon,  as  you  will  see  when  you  read  what  I  have  spoken 
of.  Do  not  ask  me  how  I  have  come  by  it — you  will 
read  all  about  it  there.  I  do  not  know  that  I  would  give 
it  to  you  to-night,  but  I  liave  a  strange  foreboding  that  it 
is  destined  to  be  my  last  on  earth.  And,  Leoline,  ray 
child,  before  I  leave  you,  let  me  hear  you  say  you  will 
not  hate  me  when  you  read  what  is  there." 

"  What  have  you  done  to  me.  Why  should  I  hate 
you?" 

«  Ah !  you  will  find  that  all  out  soon  enough.  Do  con- 
tent me,  Leoline — let  me  hear  you  say :  '  La  Masque, 
whatever  you  have  done  to  me,  however  you  have  wronged 
me,  I  will  forgive  you ! '  Can  you  say  that?  " 

Leoline  repeated  it  simply,  like  a  little  child.  La  Masque 
took  her  hfind,  held  it  between  both  her  own,  leaned  over 
and  looked  earnestly  in  her  face. 

"  My  little  Leoline  I  my  beautiful  rosebud !  May  God 
bless  you  and  grant  you  a  long  and  happy  life  with — 
shall  I  say  it,  Leoline  ?  " 

"  Please — no !  "  whispered  Leoline,  shyly. 

La  Masque  softly  patted  the  little  tremulous  hand. 

"  We  are  both  saying  the  name  now  in  our  hearts,  my 
dear,  so  it  is  little  matter  whether  our  lips  repeat  it  or 
not.  He  is  worthy  of  you,  Leoline,  and  your  life  will  be 
a  happy  one  by  his  side ;  but  there  is  another/'  She 
paused  and  lowered  her  voice.  "  When  have  you  seen 
Count  L'Estraii{^'t'  ?  " 


164 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  Not  since  yesterday,  madame." 

"  Beware  of  him  !    Do  you  know  who  he  is,  Leoline  ?  " 

«  I  know  nothing  of  him  but  his  name." 

"  Then  do  not  seek  to  know,"  said  LaMasque,  emphat- 
ically. "  For  it  is  a  secret  you  would  tremble  to  hear. 
And  now  I  must  leave  you — come  with  me  to  the  door, 
and  fasten  it  as  soon  as  I  go  out,  lest  you  should  forgt;^ 
it  altogether. " 

Leoline,  with  a  sort  of  dazed  bewilderment,  thrust  th'^, 
precious  little  casket  into  the  bosom  of  her  dress,  and 
taking  up  the  lamp,  preceded  her  visitor  down-stairs. 
At  the  door  they  paused,  and  La  Masque,  with  her  hand 
on  her  arm,  repeated,  in  a  low,  earnest  voice : 

"  Leoline,  beware  of  Count  L'Estrange,  and  become 
Lady  Kingsley  as  soon  as  you  can !  " 

'*  I  will  bear  that  name  to-morrow ! "  thought  Leoline, 
with  a  glad  little  thrill  at  her  heart,  as  La  Masque  flitted 
out  into  the  moonlight.  And  she  closed  and  locked  the 
door,  driving  the  bolts  into  their  sockets,  and  making  all 
secure.  "  I  defy  any  one  to  get  in  again  to-night ! "  she 
said,  smiling  at  her  own  dexterity ;  and  lamp  in  hand, 
she  ran  lightly  up-stairs  to  read  the  long  unsolved  riddle. 
So  eager  ^vas  she,  that  she  had  crossed  the  room,  laid  the 
lamp  on  the  table,  and  sat  do\vn  before  it,  ere  she  became 
aware  that  she  was  not  alone.  Some  one  was  leaning 
against  the  mantel,  his  arm  on  it,  and  his  eyes  on  her, 
gazing  with  an  air  of  incomparable  coolness  and  ease.  It 
was  a  man  this  time — something  more  than  a  man,  a 
count,  and  Count  L'Estrange,  at  that ! 

Leoline  sprung  to  her  feet  with  a  wild  scream,  a  cry 
full  of  terror,  amaze,  and  superstitious  dread ;  and  the 
count  raised  his  hand  with  a  self-possessed  smile. 

"  Pardon,  fair  Leoline,  if  I  intrude  !  But  have  I  not  a 
right  to  come  at  all  hours  and  visit  my  bride  ?  " 

"  Leoline  is  no  bride  of  yours ! "  retorted  that  young 
lady,  passionately,  her  indignation  overpowering  both 
fear  and  surprise.  "  And  what  is  more,  never  will  be  I 
Now.  sir ! " 

"  So  my  little  bird  of  paradise  can  fire  up,  I  see  !  As  to 
your  beinp^  my  bride,  that  remains  to  be  seen.  You  prom- 
ised to  ])e  to-night,  you  know  1 " 


LEvOLINE'S  VISITORS, 


165 


not  a 


"  Then  I'll  recall  that  promise.  I  have  changed  my 
mmd." 

"  Well,  that's  not  very  astonishing ;  it  is  but  the  privi- 
lege of  your  sex !  Nevertheless,  I'm  afraid  I  must  insist 
on  your  becoming  Countess  L'Estrange,  and  that  im- 
mediately ! " 

•'  Never,  sir !     I  will  die  first !  " 

'*  Oh  no !  We  could  not  spare  such  a  bright  little 
oeauty  out  of  this  ugly  world !  You  will  live,  and  live 
for  me ! " 

"  Sir  i "  cried  Leoline,  white  with  passion,  and  her 
black  eyes  blazing  with  a  fire  that  would  ha^^e  killed  him, 
could  fiery  glances  slay,  "  I  do  not  know  how  you  have 
entered  here ;  but  I  do  know,  if  you  are  a  gentleman,  you 
will  leave  me  instantly  !  Go,  sir !  I  never  wish  to  see 
you  again  I " 

"But  when  I  wish  to  ^ee  you  so  much,  my  darling 
Leoline,"  said  the  count,  with  provoking  indifference, 
**  what  does  a  little  reluctance  on  your  part  signify  ?  Get 
your  hood  and  mantle,  my  love — my  horse  awaits  us 
without — and  let  us  fly  where  neither  plague  nor  mortal 
man  will  interrupt  our  nuptials  I  " 

"  Will  no  one  take  this  man  away  ?  "  she  cried,  look- 
ing helplessly  round,  and  wringing  her  hands. 

"  Certainly  not,  my  dear — not  even  Sir  Norman  King- 
sley !  George,  I  am  afraid  this  pretty  little  vixen  will 
not  go  peaceably  ;  you  had  better  oome  in." 

With  a  smile  on  his  face,  he  took  a  step  toward  her. 
Shrieking  wildly,  she  darted  across  the  room,  and  made 
for  the  door  just  as  somebody  else  was  entering  it.  The 
next  instant  a  shawl  was  thrown  over  her  head,  her  cries 
smothered  in  it,  and  she  was  lifted  in  a  pair  of  strong 
arms,  carried  down-stairs,  and  out  into  the  night. 


As  to 
prom- 


.,1 


166 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE    THIRD    VISION. 


Ill 


Presentiments  are  strange  things.  From  the  first 
moment  Sir  Norman  entered  the  city,  and  his  thoughts 
had  been  able  to  leave  Miranda  and  find  themselves 
wholly  on  Leoline,  a  heavy  foreboding  of  evil  to  her  had 
oppressed  him.  Some  danger,  he  was  sure,  had  befallen 
her  during  his  absence — how  could  it  be  otherwise  with 
the  Earl  of  Rochester  and  Count  L'Estrange  both  on  her 
track?  Perhaps,  by  this  time,  one  or  other  had  found, 
her,  and  alone  and  unaided  she  had  been  an  easy  victim, 
and  was  now  borne  beyond  his  reach  forever.  The 
thought  goaded  him  and  his  horse  almost  to  distraction ; 
for  the  moment  it  struck  him,  he  struck  spurs  into  his 
horse,  making  that  unoffending  animal  jump  spasmodi- 
cally, like  one  of  those  prancing  steeds  Miss  Bonheur  is 
fond  of  depicting.  Through  the  streets  he  flew  at  a  frantic 
rate,  growing  more  excited  and  full  of  apprehensions  the 
nearer  he  came  to  old  London  Bridge  ;  and  calling  him- 
self a  select  litany  of  hard  names  inwardly,  for  having 
left  the  dear  little  thing  at  all. 

"  If  I  find  her  safe  and  well,"  thought  Sir  Norman, 
emphatically,  "  nothing  short  of  an  earthquake  or  dying 
of  the  plague  will  ever  induce  me  to  leave  her  again,  un- 
til she  is  Lady  Kingsley,  and  in  the  old  manor  at  Devon- 
shire. What  a  fool,  and  idiot,  and  ninny  I  must  have 
been,  to  have  left  her  as  I  did,  knowing  those  two  sleuth- 
hounds  were  in  full  chase  I  What  are  all  the  Mirandas 
and  midnight  queens  to  me,  if  Leoline  is  lost  ?  " 

That  last  question  was  addressed  to  the  elements  in 
general ;  and  as  they  disdained  reply,  he  cantered  on  furi- 
ously, till  the  old  house  by  the  river  was  reached.    It 


THE  THIRD  VISION. 


167 


was  the  third  time  that  night  he  had  paused  to  contem- 
plate it,  and  each  time  with  very  different  feelings  ;  first, 
from  simple  curiosity ;  second,  in  an  ecstasy  of  deliglit, 
and  tliird  and  last,  in  an  agony  of  apprehension.  All 
around  was  peaceful  and  still;  moon  and  stars  sailed 
serentily  through  a  sky  of  silver  and  snow ;  a  faint  cool 
breeze  floated  up  from  the  river  and  fanned  his  hut  nnd 
fevered  forehead ;  the  whole  city  lay  wrapped  in  stiihu-."^  s 
as  profound  and  deathlilve  as  the  fableil  one  of  the  mm  hie 
prince  in  the  Eastern  tale — nothing  living  moved  abroad 
but  the  lonely  night-guard  keeping  their  dreary  vigils  be- 
fore the  plague-stricken  houses,  and  tlie  ever-present, 
ever- busy  pest-cart,  witli  its  mournful  bell  and  dreadful 
cry.  As  far  as  Sir  Norman  could  see,  no  other  human 
being  but  himself  and  the  solitary  watchman,  so  often 
mentioned,  were  visible.  Even  he  could  scarcely  be  said 
to  be  present ;  for,  though  loaning  against  tlic  house  with 
his  halbert  on  his  shoulder,  he  was  sound  asleep  at  his 
post,  and  far  away  in  the  land  of  dreams.  It  was  the  sec- 
ond night  of  his  watch ;  and  with  a  good  conscience  and 
a  sound  digestion,  there  is  no  earthly  anguish  short  of 
the  toothache  strong  enough  to  k6ep  a  man  awake  two 
nights  in  succession.  So  sound  were  his  balmy  slumbers 
in  his  airy  chamber  that  not  even  the  loud  clatter  of  Sir 
Norman's  horse's  hoofs  proved  strong  enough  to  arouse 
him ;  and  that  young  gentleman,  after  glancing  at  hira, 
made  up  his  mind  to  try  to  find  out  for  himself  before 
arousing  him  to  seek  information.  Securing  his  horse, 
he  looked  up  at  the  house  with  wistfully  earnest  eyes, 
and  saw  that  the  solitary  light  still  burned  in  her  cham- 
ber. It  struck  him  now  how  very  imprudent  it  was  to 
keep  that  lamp  burning ;  for  if  Count  L'Estrange  saw  it, 
it  was  all  up  with  Leoline — and  there  was  even  more  to 
be  dreaded  from  him  than  from  the  earl.  How  was  he 
to  find  out  whether  that  illuminated  chamber  had  a  ten- 
ant or  not  ?  Certainly,  standing  there  staring  till  dooms- 
day would  not  do  it ;  and  there  seemed  but  two  ways, 
that  of  entering  the  house  at  once,  or  arousing  the  man. 
But  the  man  was  sleeping  so  soundly  that  it  seempd  a 
pity  to  awake  him  for  a  tritlo  ;  mi  I,  nft('r  nil,  there  could 
be  no  ^roat  barn)  or  indisgn/viou  •])  In^  entering  to  see  if 


168 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


his  l)ri(le  was  safe.  Probably  Leoline  was  asleep,  and 
would  know  nothing  about  it;  or,  even  were  she  wide 
awtil.i',  and  watchful,  she  was  altogether  too  sensible  a 
girl  to  be  displeased  at  his  anxiety  about  her.  If  she 
wen;  still  awake,  and  waiting  for  day-dawn,  he  resolved 
to  sfc  ly  with  her  and  keep  her  from  feeling  lonesome  un- 
til th;it  time  came — if  she  were  asleep,  he  would  steal  out 
softly  Mgain,  and  keep  guard  at  her  door  until  mornisn^. 
Full  of  these  praiseworthy  resolutions,  he  tried  tho  han»Uo 
of  the  door,  half  expecting  to  find  it  locked,  and  himself 
obliged  to  perpetrate  an  entrance  through  the  window ; 
but  no,  it  yielded  to  his  touch  and  he  went  in.  Hall  and 
staircase  were  intensely  dark,  but  he  knew  his  way  with- 
out a  pilot  this  time,  ajid  steered  clear  of  all  shoals  and 
quicksands,  through  the  hall  and  up  tlie  stairs.  The 
door  of  the  lighted  room — Leoline's  room — lay  wide  open, 
and  he  paused  on  the  threshold  to  reconnoiter.  He  had 
gone  softly  for  fear  of  startling  her,  and  now,  with  the 
same  tender  caution,  he  glanced  round  the  room.  .  The 
lamp  burned  on  the  dainty  dressing-table,  where  undis- 
turbed lay  jewels,  perfume-bottles,  sprinkling-glass  and 
mirror.  The  cithern  lay  unmolested  on  the  couch,  the 
rich  curtains  were  drawn ;  everything  was  as  he  had  left 
it  last — everything  but  the  pretty  pink  figure,  with  droop- 
ing eyes,  and  pearls  in  the  waves  of  her  rich  black  hair. 
He  looked  round  for  the  things  she  had  worn,  hoping  she 
had  taken  them  off  and  retired  to  rest,  but  they  were  not 
to  be  seen ;  and  with  a  cold  sinking  of  the  heart,  he  went 
noiselessly  across  the  room,  and  to  the  bed.  It  was  empty, 
and  showed  no  trace  of  having  been  otherwise  since  ho 
and  the  pest-cart  driver  had  borne  from  it  the  apparently 
lifeless  form  of  Leoline.  Yes,  she  was  gone ;  and  Sir 
Norman  turned  for  a  moment  so  sick  with  utter  dread 
that  he  leaned  against  one  of  the  tall  carved  posts,  and 
hated  himself  for  having  left  her  with  a  heartlessness  that 
his  worst  enemy  could  not  have  surpassed.  Then  aroused 
into  new  and  spasmodic  energy  by  the  exigency  of  the 
case,  he  seized  the  lamp,  and  going  out  into  the  hall,  made 
the  house  ring  from  basement  to  attic  with  her  name, 
no  reply  but  that  hollow,  mei^in'^holy  echo  that  sounds 
^Q  lugubriously  through  empty  houses,  was  returned  j  and 


THE  THIRD  VISION. 


169 


he  jumped  down-stairs  with  an  impetuous  rush,  flinging 
back  every  door  in  the  hall  below  with  a  crash,  and  flying 
wildly  from  room  to  room.  In  solemn,  grim  repose  they 
lay ;  but  none  of  them  held  the  bright  ligure  in  rose-satin 
he  sought.  And  he  left  them  in  d(!spair,  and  went  bnck 
to  her  chamber  again.  "  Leoline  !  Leoline  !  Leoline  !  "  lie 
called,  while  he  rushed  impetuously  up-stairs,  and  down- 
stairs, and  in  my  lady's  chamber ;  bu^  Leoline  aiiswi  ivd 
not — perhaps  never  would  answer  more  !  liven  "  hoping 
against  hope,"  he  had  given  up  the  chase  at  last — no  I  eo- 
line  did  that  house  hold;  and  with  this  conviction  de- 
spairingly impressed  on  his  mind.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley 
covered  his  face  with  his  hands,  and  uttered  a  dismal 
groan.  Yet,  forlorn  as  was  the  case,  he  groaned  but 
once,  "  only  that  and  nothing  more  " ;  there  was  no  time 
for  such  t^mall  luxuries  as  groaning  and  tearing  his  hair, 
and  boiling  over  with  wrath  and  vengeanc  e  against  the 
human  race  generally,  and  those  twodia])o]i('al  specimens 
of  it,  the  Earl  of  Rochester  and  Count  L'Est range,  par- 
ticularly. He  plunged  head-foremost  down-stairs,  and 
out  of  the  door.  There  he  was  impetuously  bionght  up 
all  standing;  for  somebody  stood  before  it,  gazing  up  at 
the  gloomy  front  with  as  much  earnestness  as  he  had 
done  himself,  and  against  this  individual  he  rushed  reck- 
lessly with  the  shock  that  nearly  sent  the  pair  of  them 
over  into  the  kennel. 

"  Sacr-r-re  !  "  cried  a  shrill  voice,  in  tones  of  indignant 
remonstrance.  "What  do  you  mean,  monsieur?  Are 
you  drunk,  or  crazy,  that  you  come  running  head-fore- 
most into  peaceable  citizens,  and  throwing  them  heels  up- 
permost on  the  king's  highway  ?  Stand  off,  sir  !  and  think 
yourself  lucky  that  I  don't  run  you  through  with  my  dirk 
for  such  an  insult ! " 

At  the  first  sound  of  the  outraged  treVjle  tones.  Sir 
Norman  had  started  back,  and  glared  upon  the  speaker 
with  much  the  same  expression  of  countenance  as  an  in- 
censed tiger.  The  orator  of  the  spirited  address  had 
stooped  to  pick  up  his  plumed  cap,  and  recover  his  center 
of  gravity,  which  was  considerably  knocked  out  of  place 
by  the  unexpected  collision,  and  held  forth  with  very 
fla^shing  eyes,  and  altogether  too  an^ry  to  recognize  hi^ 


170 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


auditor.  Sir  Norman  waited  until  he  had  done,  and  then 
springing  at  him,  grabbed  him  l)y  the  collar. 

"  You  young  hound,"  he  exclaimed,  fairly  lifting  him 
oflf  his  feet  with  one  hand,  and  shaking  him  as  if  he  would 
have  wriggled  him  out  of  hose  and  doublet.  "  You  infer- 
nal young  jackanapes  I  I'll  run  you  through  in  less  tlian 
two  minutes,  if  you  don't  tell  me  where  you  have  talten 
her." 

The  astonishment,  not  to  say  consternation,  of  Master 
Hubert — for  that  small  young  gentleman  and  no  ether  it 
was — on  having  his  ideas  thus  shaken  out  of  him,  was 
unbounded,  and  held  him  perfectly  speechless,  while  Sir 
Norman  glared  at  and  shook  him  in  a  way  tliat  would 
have  instantaneously  killed  him  if  his  looks  were  light- 
ning. The  boy  had  recognized  his  aggressor,  and  after 
his  tirst  galvanic  shock,  struggled  like  a  little  hero  to  free 
himself,  and  at  length  succeeded  by  an  artful  spring. 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,"  he  cried,  keeping  a  safe  yard 
or  two  of  pavement  between  him  and  that  infuriated  young 
knight,  "  have  you  gone  mad,  or  what,  in  Heaven's  name, 
is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?  " 

"  It  means,"  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  drawing  his  sword, 
and  flourishing  it  within  an  inch  of  the  boy's  curly  head, 
"  that  you'll  be  a  dead  page  in  less  than  half  a  minute, 
without  you  tell  me  immediately  where  she  has  been 
taken  to." 

"  Where  who  has  been  taken  to  ?  "  inquired  Hubert, 
opening  his  bright  and  indignant  black  eyes  in  a  way 
that  reminded  Sir  Norman  forcibly  of  Leoline.  "  Pardon, 
monsieur,  I  don't  understand  at  all." 

"  You  young  villain !  Do  you  mean  to  stand  up  there 
and  tell  me  to  my  face  that  you  have  not  searched  for  her, 
and  found  her,  and  have  carried  her  off  ?  '* 

"  Why,  do  you  mean  the  lady  we  were  talking  of,  that 
was  saved  from  the  river  ?  "  asked  Hubert,  a  new  light 
dawning  upon  him. 

"  Do  I  mean  the  lady  we  were  talking  of  ?  "  repeated 
Su*  Norman,  with  another  furious  flourish  of  his  sword. 
«  Yes,  I  do  mean  the  lady  we  were  talking  of ;  and  what's 
jjjppQ — J  mean  to  pin  you  where  you  stand^  against  th?^t 


THE  THIRD  VISIOJT. 


171 


wall,  unless  you  tell  me  instantly,  where  she  has  been 
taken." 

"  Monsieur  I  "  exclaimed  the  boy,  raising  his  hand  with 
an  earnestness  there  was  no  mistaking,  "  I  do  assure  you, 
upon  my  honor,  that  I  know  nothing  of  tiie  liuly  what- 
ever ;  that  I  have  not  found  her ;  that  I  have  never  sot 
eyes  on  her  since  the  earl  saved  her  from  the  river." 

The  earnest  tone  of  truth,  would,  in  itself,  almost  have 
convinced  Sir  Norman,  but  it  was  not  that,  that  matU3 
him  drop  his  sword  and  wilt  so  suddenly  down.  Tlie 
pale,  startled  f;\  ce ;  the  dark,  solemn  eyes,  were  so  exactly 
Leoline's  that  they  thrilled  him  through  and  through,  and 
almost  made  him  believe,  for  a  moment,  he  was  tiilking  to 
Leoline  himself. 

"  Are  you —  are  you  sure  you  are  not  Tjcoline  ?  "  he  in- 
quired, almost  convinced,  for  an  instant,  by  the  marvelous 
resemblance,  that  it  was  really  so. 

"Me?  Positively,  Sir  Norman,  I  cannot  understand 
this  at  all,  unless  you  wish  to  enjoy  yourself  at  my  ex- 
pense." 

**  Look  here.  Master  Hubert  I  "  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a 
sudden  change  of  look  and  tone.  "  If  you  do  not  under- 
stand, I  shall  just  tell  you,  in  a  word  or  two,  how  matters 
are,  and  then  let  me  hear  you  clear  yourself.  You  know 
the  lady  we  were  talking  about,  that  Lord  Rochester 
picked  up  afloat,  and  sent  you  in  search  of  ?  " 

"Yes — yes." 

«  Well,"  went  on  Sir  Norman,  with  a  sort  of  grim  stoi- 
cism. "  After  leaving  you,  I  started  on  a  little  expedition 
of  my  own,  two  miles  from  the  city,  from  which  expedi- 
tion I  returned  ten  minutes  ago.  When  I  left  the  lady 
was  secure  ani  safe  in  this  house ;  when  I  came  back  she 
was  gone.  You  were  in  search  of  her — had  told  me  your- 
self you  were  determined  on  finding  her,  and  having 
her  carried  off ;  and  now,  my  youthful  friend,  put  this 
and  that  together,"  with  a  momentary  returning  glare, 
*»  and  see  what  it  amounts  to ! " 

"  It  amounts  to  this !  "  retorted  his  youthful  friend, 
stoutly ;  that  I  know  nothing  whatever  about  it.  You 
may  make  out  a  case  of  strong  circumstantial  evidence 


I, 


If 


I   i 


in 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


against  me ;  but  if  the  lady  has  been  carried  off,  I  have 
had  no  hand  in  it." 

Agfain  Sir  Norman  was  staggered  by  the  frank,  bold 
gaze  and  truthful  voice,  but  still  the  string  was  in  a 
tangle  somewhere. 

"  And  where  have  you  been  ever  since  ? "  he  began, 
severely,  and  with  the  air  of  a  lawyer  about  to  go  into 
rigid  cross-examination. 

"  Searching  for  her,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

«  Where  ?  " 

"  Through  the  streets ;  in  the  pest-houses,  and  at  the 
plague-pit." 

"  How  did  you  find  out  she  lived  here  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  find  it  out.  When  I  became  convinced  she 
was  in  none  of  the  places  I  have  mentioned,  I  gave  up 
the  search  in  despair,  for  to-night,  and  wjis  returning  to 
his  lordship  to  report  my  ill  success." 

"  Why  then,  were  you  standing  in  front  of  her  house, 
gaping  at  it  with  all  the  eyes  in  your  head,  as  if  it  were 
the  eighth  wonder  of  the  world  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  has  not  the  most  courteous  way  of  asking 
questions  that  I  ever  heard  of ;  but  I  have  no  particular 
objection  to  answer  him.  It  struck  me  that,  as  Mr.  Ormis- 
ton  brought  the  lady  up  this  way,  and  as  I  saw  you  and 
he  haunting  this  place  so  much  to-night,  I  thought  her 
residence  was  somewhere  here,  and  I  paused  to  look  at 
the  house  as  I  went  along.  In  fact,  I  intended  to  ask  old 
sleepy-head,  over  there,  for  further  particulars,  before  I 
left  the  neighborhood,  had  not  you,  Sir  Norman,  run  bolt 
into  me,  and  knocked  every  idea  clean  out  of  my  head." 

"  And  you  are  sure  you  are  not  Leoline  ? "  said  Sir 
Normfin,  suspiciously. 

"  To  the  best  of  my  belief.  Sir  Norman,  I  am  not,"  re- 
plied Hubert,  reflectively. 

"  Well,  it  is  all  very  strange,  and  very  aggravating," 
said  Sir  Norrnan,  sighing  and  sheathing  his  sword.  "  She 
is  gone,  at  all  events ;  no  doubt  about  that — and  if  you 
have  not  carried  her  off,  somebody  else  has." 

"  Perhaps  she  has  gone  herself,"  insinuated  Hubert. 

"Bah!  Gone  herself!"  said  Sir  Norman,  scornfully. 
«  The  idea  is  beneath  contempt !    I  tell  you,  Master  Fine- 


THE  THIRD  VISION. 


178 


n 


feathers,  the  lady  and  I  were  to  be  married  bright  and 
early  to-morrow  morning,  and  leave  tliis  disgusting  city 
for  Devonshire.  Do  you  suppose,  tlien,  she  would  run 
out  in  the  small  hours  of  the  morning,  and  go  prancing 
about  the  streets,  or  eloping  with  herself  ?  " 

"  Why,  of  course.  Sir  Norman,  I  can't  take  it  upon  my- 
self to  answer  positively  ;  but,  to  use  the  mildi^st  phrase', 
I  must  say  the  lady  seems  decidedly  eccentric,  and  capable 
of  doing  very  queer  things.  I  hope,  however,  you  bclit^vc 
me;  for  1  earnestly  assure  you  I  never  laid  eyes' on  her 
but  that  once." 

"  I  believe  you,"  said  Sir  Norman,  with  another  pro- 
found and  l)n)ken-h carted  sigh,  "and  I'm  only  too  sure 
she  has  lieen  abducted  by  that  consummate  s(,'oundrel 
and  treacherous  villain.  Count  L'Estrange." 

"  Count  wJio  ?  "  said  Hubert,  with  a  quick  start,  and  a 
look  of  intense  curiosity.     "  What  was  the  name  ?  " 

"  L'Estrange — a  scoundrel  of  the  deepest  dye  !  Per- 
haps you  know  him  ?" 

"  No,"  replied  Hubert,  with  a  queer,  half-musing  smile, 
"  no ;  but  I  have  a  notion  I  have  heard  the  name.  Was 
he  a  rival  of  yours  ?  " 

"  I  should  think  so !  He  was  to  have  been  married  to 
the  lady  this  very  night." 

"  He  was,  eh  ?    And  what  stopped  the  match  ?  " 

"  She  took  the  plague  !  "  said  Sir  Norman,  strange  to 
say,  not  at  all  offended  at  the  boy's  familiarity.  "  And 
would  have  been  thrown  into  the  plague-pit  but  for  me, 
and  when  she  recovered  she  accepted  me  and  cast  him 
off!" 

"  A  quick  exchange !  The  lady's  heart  must  be  most 
flexible,  or  unusually  large,  to  be  able  to  hold  so  many  at 
once." 

"  It  never  held  him,"  said  Sir  Norman,  frowning ;  "  slie 
was  forced  into  the  marriage  by  her  mercenary  friends. 
Oh !  if  I  had  him  here,  wouldn't  I  make  him  wish  the 
highwaymen  had  shot  him  through  the  head  and  done 
for  him,  before  I  would  let  him  go ! " 

"  What  is  he  like — this  Count  L'Estrange  ? "  said 
Hubert,  carelessly. 

'*  Like  tbp!  blackhearted  traitor  and  villain  he  is  I "  re- 


m 


'' 


t 


I 


m 


174 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEK 


plied  Sir  Norman,  with  more  energy  than  truth  ;  for  he 
had  ca,ught  but  passing  glimpses  of  the  count's  features, 
and  those  showed  him  they  were  decidedly  prepossessing ; 
** and  he  slinks  along  like  a  coward  and  and  an  abductor 
as  he  is,  in  a  slouched  hat  and  shadowy  cloak.  Oh  I  if  I 
had  him  here ! "  repeated  Sir  Norman,  with  vivacity, 
"wouldn't  I—" 

"  Yes,  of  course  you  would,"  interposed  Hubert,  "  and 
serve  him  right,  too!  Have  you  made  any  inquiries 
about  the  matter — for  instance,  of  our  friend,  sleeping 
the  sleep  of  the  just,  across  there  ?  " 

"No— why?" 

"  Why,  it  seems  to  me,  if  she's  been  carried  off  before 
he  fell  asleep,  he  has  probably  heard  or  seen  something 
of  it ;  and  I  think  it  would  not  be  a  bad  plan  to  step  over 
and  inquire." 

«  Well,  we  can  try,"  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a  despair- 
ing fare  ;  "  but  I  know  it  will  end  in  disappointment  and 
vexation  of  spirit,  like  all  the  rest ! " 

With  which  dismal  view  of  things,  he  crossed  the 
street  side  by  side  with  his  jaunty  young  frieiid.  The 
watchman  was  still  enjoying  the  balmy,  and  snoring  in 
short,  sharp  snorts,  when  Master  Hubert  remorselessly 
caught  him  by  the  shoulder,  and  began  a  series  of  shakes 
and  pokes,  and  digs,  and  "  hallos  ! "  and  "  wake  ups !  '* 
while  Sir  Norman  stood  near  and  contemplated  the  scene 
with  a  pensive  eye.  At  last,  after  undergoing  a  severe 
course  of  this  treatment  the  watchman  was  induced  to 
open  his  eyes  on  this  mortal  life,  and  transfix  the  two  be- 
holders with  an  intensely  vacant  and  blank  stare. 

"Hey?"  he  inquired,  helplessly.  "What  was  you 
a-saying  of,  gentlemen  ?    What  was  it  ?  " 

"  We  weren't  a-saying  of  anything  as  yet,"  returned 
Hubert ;  "  but  we  mean  to,  shortly  !  Are  you  quite  sure 
you  are  wide  awake  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  want  ? "  was  the  cross-question,  given 
by  way  of  answer.  "What  do  you  come  botliering  me 
for  at  such  a  rate,  all  night,  I  wnnt  to  know  ?  " 

"  Keep  civil,  friend,  we  wear  swords,"  said  Hubert^ 
touching,  v/ith  dignity,  the  hilt  of  a  little  dagger  he 


■ 


THE  THIRD  VISION*. 


ITS 


to 


)U 


re 


le 


carried  ;  ^*  we  only   want  to  ask  you  a  few   questions. 
First,  do  you  see  that  house  over  yonder  ?  '' 

"  Oh !  I  see  it,"  said  the  man,  gruffly  ;  "  I'm  not 
blind ! " 

"  Wellj  who  was  the  last  person  you  saw  come  out  of 
that  house  ?  "  - 

"  I  don't  know  who  they  was  I "  still  more  gruffly. 

"  I  ain't  got  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance  I  " 

"  Did  you  see  a  young  lady  come  out  of  it  lately  ?  " 

"  Did  I  see  a  young  lady  ?  "  burst  out  the  watchman, 
in  a  high  key  of  aggrieved  expostulation.  "  How  many 
more  times  this  blessed  night  am  I  to  be  asked  about  that 
young  lady  ?  First  and  foremost,  there  comes  two  young 
men  which  this  here  is  one  of  them,  and  they  take  out 
the  young  lady  and  have  her  hauled  away  in  the  dead- 
cart  ;  then  comes  along  anotlier,  as  wants  to  know  all 
the  particulars,  and  by  the  time  he  gets  properly  away, 
somebody  else  comes  and  brings  her  back  like  a  drowned 
rat.  Then  all  sorts  of  people  goes  in  and  out,  till  I  get 
tired  looking  at  them,  and  then  fall  asleep,  and  before 
I've  been  in  that  condition  above  a  minute,  you  two 
come  punching  me  and  waking  me  up  to  ask  questions 
about  her  ?  I  wish  that  young  lady  was  in  Jericho — I 
do!"  said  the  watchman,  with  smothered  growl. 

«  Come,  come,  my  man,"  said  Hubert,  slapping  him 
soothingly  on  the  shoulder.  "Don't  be  savage,  if  you 
can  help  it !  This  gentleman  has  a  gold  coin  in  some  of 
his  pocke  uS,  I  know,  and  it  will  fall  to  you  if  you  keep  quiet 
and  ansv  er  decently.  Tell  me  how  many  have  been  in 
that  house  since  the  young  lady  was  brought  back  like 
a  drow  led  rat?" 

"Hew  many? "said  the  man,  meditati7ely,  with  his 
eyes  fired  on  Sir  Norman's  garments,  and  he,  perceiving 
that,  imiiiediately  gave  him  tlie  promised  coin  to  refresh 
his  memory,  which  it  did  with  amazing  quickness.  "  How 
many — ah — let  me  see ;  there  was  the  yourg  man  that 
brought  her  in  and  left  her  there,  and  came  out  again  and 
went  away.  By-and-by  he  came  back  with  another, 
whifh  T  think  this  as  g:ive  me  the  money  is  him.  After 
a  little  they  came  out,  tirst  the  other  one,  then  this  one, 
aiid  went  off ;  and  the  next  tliat  went  in  was  a  tall 


' 


P' 


176 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


woman  in  black,  with  a  mask  on,  and  right  behind  her 
there  came  two  men;  the  woman  in  the  mask  came  out 
after  a  while  ;  and  about  ten  minutes  after,  the  two  men 
followed,  and  one  of  them  carried  something  in  his  arms, 
that  didn't  look  unlike  a  lady  with  her  head  in  a  shawl. 
Anything  wrong,  sir  ? "  as  Sir  Norman  gave  a  violent 
start  and  caught  Hubert  by  the  arm. 

"  Nothing !  Where  did  they  carry  her  to  ?  What  did 
they  do  with  her  ?    Go  on  !  go  on !  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  watchman,  eying  the  speaker  curiously, 
"I'm  going  to.  They  went  along,  down  to  the  river, 
both  of  them,  and  I  saw  a  boat  shove  off,  shortly  after, 
and  that  something,  with  its  head  in  a  shawl,  lying  as 
peaceable  as  a  lamb,  with  one  of  the  two  beside  it.  That's 
all — I  went  asleep  about  then,  till  yon  two  were  shaking 
me  and  waking  me  up." 

Sir  Norman  and  Hubert  looked  at  each  c»ther,  one  be- 
tween despair  and  rage,  the  other  with  a  thoughtful,  half- 
inquiriiig  air,  as  if  he  had  some  secret  to  tell,  and  was 
mentally  questioning  whether  it  was  safe  to  do  to.  On 
the  whole,  he  seemed  to  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  a 
silent  tongue  maketh  a  wise  head,  and  n  dding  and  say- 
ing, "  Thank  you  I  "  to  the  watchman,  he  j)assed  his  arm 
through  Sir  Norman's,  and  drew  him  back  to  the  door 
of  Leoline's  house. 

"There  is  a  light  within,"  he  said,  looking  up  at  it; 
"how  comes  that  ? " 

"  I  found  the  lamp  burning  when  I  returned,  and  every- 
thing undisturbed.  They  must  have  entered  noiselessly, 
and  carried  her  off  without  a  struggle,"  replied  Sir  Nor- 
man, with  a  sort  of  groan. 

"  Have  you  searched  the  house — searched  it  well  ?" 

"  Thoroughly — from  top  to  bottom !  " 

"It  seems  to  me  there  ought  to  be  some  trace.  Will 
you  come  back  with  me  and  look  again  ?  " 

"  It  is  no  use ;  but  there  is  nothing  else  I  can  do ;  so 
come  along ! " 

They  entered  the  house,  and  Sir  Norman  led  tlie  page 
directly  to  Leoline's  room,  where  the  light  was. 

"  I  left  her  here  when  1  went  away,  and  here  the  lamp 


THE  THIRD  VISION. 


177 


was  burning  when  I  came  back ;  so  it  must  have  been  from 
this  room  she  was  taken." 

Hubert  was  gazing  slowly  and  critically  round,  taking 
note  of  everything.  Something  glistened  and  flashed  on 
the  floor,  under  the  mantel,  and  he  went  over  and  picked 
it  up. 

"  What  have  you  there  ? "  asked  Sir  Norman,  in  sur- 
prise ;  for  the  boy  had  started  so  suddenly,  and  flushed 
so  violently,  that  it  might  have  astonished  any  one. 

"  Only  a  shoe-buckle — a  gentleman's — do  you  recognize 
it  ?  "     . 

Though  he  spoke  in  his  usual  careless  way,  and  half- 
hummed  the  air  of  one  of  Lord  Rochester's  love  songs,  he 
watched  him  keenly  as  he  examined  it.  It  was  a  dia- 
mond buckle,  exquisitely  set,  and  of  great  beauty  and 
value ;  but  Sir  Norman  knew  nothing  of  it. 

"  There  are  initials  upon  it — see  there  I "  said  Hubert, 
pointing,  and  still  watching  him  with  the  same  powerful 
glance.  "  The  letters  C.  W.  That  can't  stand  for  Count 
L'Estrange." 

"Who  then  can  it  stand  for ? "  inquired  Sir  Norman, 
looking  at  him  fixedly,  and  with  far  more  penetration 
than  the  court  page  had  given  him  credit  for.  "  I  am 
certain  you  know." 

"  I  suspect !  "  said  the  boy,  emphatically,  "  nothing  more ; 
and  if  it  is  as  I  believe,  I  will  bring  you  news  of  Leoline 
before  you  are  two  hours  older." 

"  How  am  I  to  know  you  are  not  deceiving  me,  and  will 
not  betray  her  into  the  power  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester — 
if,  indeed,  she  be  not  in  his  power  rjready." 

"  She  is  not  in  it,  and  never  will  be  through  me  I  I 
feel  an  odd  interest  in  this  matlier,  and  I  will  be  true  to 
you.  Sir  Norman — though  whj  I  should  be,  I  really  don't 
know.  I  give  you  my  word  Oi  honor  tliat  I  will  do  what 
I  can  to  find  Leoline,  and  restore  her  to  you  ;  and  I  have 
never  yet  broken  my  word  of  honor  to  any  man,"  said 
Hubert,  drawing  himself  up. 

"  Well,  I  will  trust  you,  because  I  cannot  do  anything 
better,"  said  Sir.  Norman,  rather  dolefully ,  "  but  why 
not  let  me  go  with  you  ?  " 


^^^<^»;^^»^ 


178 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


**  No,  no !  that  would  never  do !  I  must  go  alone,  and 
vou  must  trust  me  implicitly.  Give  me  your  hand  upon 
it." 

They  shook  hands  silently,  went  down-stairs,  and 
stood  for  a  moment  at  tlie  door. 

"You'll  find  me  hera  at  any  hour  between  this  and 
morning,"  said  Sir  Norman;  "farewell  now,  and  God 
speed  you ! " 

The  boy  waved  his  hand  in  adieu,  and  started  off  at  a 
sharp  pace.  Sir  Norman  turned  in  the  opposite  direction 
for  a  short  walk,  to  cool  the  fever  in  his  blood,  and  think 
over  all  that  had  happened.  As  he  went  slowly  along,  in 
the  shadow  of  the  houses,  he  suddenly  tripped  up  over 
something  lying  in  his  path,  and  was  nearly  precipitated 
over  it.  Stooping  down  to  examine  the  stumbling-block, 
it  proved  to  be  the  rigid  body  of  a  man,  and  thf;  t  man 
was  Ormiston,  stark  and  dead,  with  his  face  upturned  to 
the  calm  night^sky. 


THE  HIDDEN  FACE. 


17C' 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


THE    HIDDEN    FACE. 


When  Mr.  Malcolm  Ormiston,  with  his  usual  good 
sense  and  penetration,  took  himself  off,  and  left  Leoline 
and  Sir  Norman  t^te-d-tete^  his  steps  turned  as  mechanically 
as  the  needle  to  the  North  Star  toward  La  ]Masque's  house. 
Before  it  he  wandered,  around  it  he  wandered,  like  an  un- 
easy ghost,  lost  in  speculation  about  the  hidden  face,  and 
fearfully  impatient  about  the  flight  of  time.  If  La  Masque 
saw  him  hovering  aloof  and  unable  to  tear  himself  away, 
perhaps  it  might  touch  her  obdurate  heart,  and  cause  her 
to  shorten  the  dreary  interval,  and  summon  him  to  her 
presence  at  once.  Just  then  some  one  opened  the  door, 
and  his  heart  began  to  beat  with  anticipation ;  some  one 
pronounced  his  name,  and,  going  over,  he  saw  the  ani- 
mated bag  of  bones — otherwise  his  lady-love's  vassal 
and  porter. 

"  La  Masque  says,"  began  the  attenuated  lackey,  and 
Ormistcn's  heart  nearly  jumped  out  of  his  mouth,  "  that 
she  can't  have  anybody  hanging  about  her  house  like  its 
shadow ;  and  she  wants  you  to  go  away,  and  keep  away, 
till  the  time  comes  she  has  mentioned." 

So  saying,  the  skeleton  shut  the  door,  and  OrmistoJi's 
heart  went  down  to  zero.  There  being  nothing  for  it  lytit 
obedience,  however,  he  slowly  and  reluctantly  turii'd 
away,  feeling  in  his  bones,  that  if  ever  he  came  to  the  bliss 
and  ecstasy  of  calling  La  Masque  Mrs.  Ormiston,  the  gray 
mare  in  his  stable  would  be  by  a  long  odds  the  better  iKjrse. 
Unintentionally  his  steps  turned  to  the  water-side,  and  lie 
descended  the  flight  of  stairs,  determined  to  get  into  a 
boat  and  watch  the  illumination  from  the  river.    Late 


I 


ill  i 


180 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


as  was  the  hour,  the  Thames  seemed  alive  with  wherries 
and  barges,  and  their  numerous  lights  danced  along  the 
surface  like  fireflies  over  a  marsh.  A  gay  barge,  gilded 
and  cushioned,  was  going  slowly  past ;  and  as  he  stood 
directly  under  the  lamp,  he  was  recognized  by  a  gentleman 
within  it,  who  leaned  over  and  hailed  him : 

"OrmisLon.     I  say,  Ormiston." 

"  Well,  my  lord,"  said  Oviniston,  recognizing  the  liand- 
some  face  and  animated  voice  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester. 

"  Hn  ve  you  any  engageiiienfc  for  tho  next  half-hour  ?  If 
not,  do  me  the  favor  to  take  a  seat  here,  and  watch  Lon- 
don in  flames  from  the  river." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  Ormiston,  running  down  to 
the  water's  edge,  and  leaping  into  the  boat.  "  With  all 
this  bustle  of  life  around  here,  one  would  think  it  were 
noonday  instead  of  midnight." 

"  The  whole  city  is  astir  about  these  fires.  Have  you 
any  idea  they  will  be  successful  ?  " 

"  Not  the  least.  You  know,  my  lord,  the  prediction 
runs,  that  the  plague  will  rage  till  the  living  are  no  longer 
able  to  bury  the  dead." 

*'  It  will  soon  come  to  that,"  said  the  earl,  shuddering 
slightly,  "if  it  continues  increasing  much  longer  as  it  does 
now  daily.     How  do  the  bills  of  mortality  run  to-day  ?  " 

"I  have  not  heard.  Hi>rk!  There  goes  St.  Paul's, 
tolling  twelve." 

"  And  there  goes  a  flash  of  fire — the  first  among  many. 
Look,  look !  IIow  they  spring  up  into  the  black  dark- 
ness." 

"  They  will  not  do  it  long.  Look  at  the  sky,  my 
lord." 

The  earl  glanced  up  at  the  midnight  sky,  of  a  dull  and 
dingy  red  color,  except  where  black  and  heavy  clouds 
were  heaving  like  angry  billows,  all  dingy  with  smoke  and 
streaked  with  bars  of  inflamed  fiery  red. 

"  I  see  !  There  is  a  storm  coming,  and  a  heavy  one  I 
Our  -worthy  burghers  and  most  v/orshipful  lord  mayor 
will  see  their  fires  extinguished  shortly,  and  themselves 
sent  home  with  a  wet  jacket." 

"  And  for  weeks,  almost  months,  there  has  not  fallen 
a  drop  of  raim"  Remarked  Ormiston,  gravely. 


fr- 


1      . 


r 


THE  HIDDEN  FACE. 


181 


my 


M 


! 


*»  A  remarkable  coincidence,  truly.  There  seems  to  be 
a  fatality  hanging  over  this  devoted  city." 

"  I  wonder  your  lordship  remains  ?  " 

The  earl  shrugged  his  shoulders  significantly. 

"  It  is  not  so  easy  leaving  it  as  you  think,  Mr.  Ormis- 
ton ;  but  I  am  to  turn  my  back  to  it  to-morrow  foi  a  brief 
period.  You  are  aware,  I  suppose  that  the  court  leaves 
before  daybreak  for  Oxford  ?  " 

"  I  believe  I  have  heard  something  of  it — how  long  to 
remain  ?  " 

"  Till  Old  Rowlie  takes  it  into  his  head  to  come  back 
again  "  said  the  earl,  familiarly  "  which  will  probably  be 
in  a  week  or  two.  Look  at  that  sky,  all  black  and  scarlet ; 
and  look  at  those  people — I  scarcely  thouglit  there  were 
half  the  number  left  alive  in  London." 

«  Even  the  sick  have  come  out  to-night,"  said  Ormiston. 
♦*  Half  the  pest-stricken  of  the  city  have  left  their  beds, 
full  of  new-born  hope.  One  would  think  it  were  a  car- 
nival." 

"  So  it  is — a  carnival  of  death  1  I  hope,  Ormiston,"  said 
the  earl,  looking  at  him  with  a  light  laugh,  "  the  pretty 
little  white  fairy  we  rescued  from  the  river  is  not  one  of 
the  sick  parading  the  streets." 

Ormiston  looked  grave. 

"  No,  my  lord,  I  think  she  is  not.  I  left  her  safe  and 
secure." 

«  Who  is  she,  Ormiston  ?  "  coaxed  the  earl,  laughingly. 
"  Pshaw,  man !  don't  make  a  mountain  out  of  a  mole-hill  I 
Tell  me  her  name  ?  " 

"  Her  name  is  Leoline." 

«  What  else  ?  " 

"  That  is  just  what  I  would  like  to  have  some  one  tell 
me.     I  give  you  my  honor,  my  lord,  I  do  not  know." 

The  earl's  face,  half-i  iignant,  half  incredulous,  wholly 
curious,  made  Ormiston  smile.  ^ 

"  It  is  a  positive  fact,  my  lord.  I  asked  her  her  name, 
and  she  told  me  Leoline — a  pretty  title  enough,  but  rather 
unsatisfactory." 

"  How  long  have  you  known  her  ?  " 

"  To  the  best  of  my  belief,"  said  Ormiston,  musingly, 
**  about  four  hours." 


m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUtJEN. 


1 1 


% 


"  Nonsense !  "  cried  the  earl,  energetically. 

"  What  are  you  telling  me,  Ormiston  ?  You  said  she 
■«ra8  Jin  old  friend." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  lord,  I  said  no  such  thing.  I 
told  you  she  had  escaped  from  her  friends,  which  was 
strictly  true." 

"  Then  how  the  demon  had  you  the  impudence  to  come 
up  and  carry  her  off  in  that  style  ?  I  certainly  had  a 
better  right  to  her  than  you — the  right  of  discovery ;  and 
I  shall  call  upon  you  to  deliver  her  up !  " 

"  If  she  belonged  to  me  I  should  only  be  too  happy  to 
oblige  your  lordship,"  laughed  Ormiston ;  "  but  she  is  at 
present  the  property  of  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  and  to  him 
you  must  apply." 

"  Ah !  His  inamorata,  is  she  ?  Well,  I  must  say  his 
taste  is  excellent ;  but  I  should  think  you  ought  to  know 
her  name,  since  you  and  he  are  noted  for  being  a  modern 
Damon  and  Pythias." 

"  Probably  I  should,  my  lord,  only  Sir  Norman,  un- 
fortunately, does  not  know  himself." 

The  earl's  countenance  looked  so  utterly  blank  at  this 
announcement  that  Ormiston  was  forced  to  throw  in  a 
word  of  explanation. 

"  I  mean  to  say,  my  lord,  that  he  has  fallen  in  love  with 
her :  and,  judging  from  appearances,  I  should  say  his 
flame  is  not  altogether  hopeless,  although  they  have  met 
to-night  for  the  first  time." 

"  A  rapid  passion.  Where  have  you  left  her,  Ormis- 
ton?" 

"In  her  own  house,  my  lord,"  Ormiston  replied,  smiling 
quietly  to  himself. 

"Where  is  that?" 

"  About  a  dozen  yards  from  where  I  stood  when  you 
called  me." 

"  Who  are  her  family  ?  "  continued  the  earl,  who  seemed 
possessed  of  a  devouring  curiosity. 

"  She  has  none  that  I  know  of.  I  imagine  Mistress 
Leoline  is  an  orphan.  I  know  there  was  not  a  living  soul 
but  ourselves  in  the  house  I  brought  her  tv ," 

"  And  you  left  her  there  alone  ?  "  exclaimed  the  earl, 


#• 


THE  HIDDEN  FACE. 


188 


half  starting  up,  as  if  about  to  order  the  boatman  to  row 
back  to  the  landing. 

Ormiston  looked  at  his  excited  face  with  a  glance  full 
of  quiet  malice. 

"  No,  my  lord,  not  quite ;  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  was 
with  her  I " 

"  Oh  I  "  said  the  earl,  smiling  back  with  a  look  of  chw^- 
rin.  "  Then  he  will  probably  find  out  her  name  before  i  le 
comes  away.  I  wonder  you  could  give  her  up  so  o-dMly 
to  him  after  all  your  trouble  ! " 

"  Smitten,  my  lord  ? "  inquired  Ormiston,  maliciously. 

"  Hopelessly  I "  replied  the  earl,  with  a  d(^cp  si<;;hi. 
«  She  was  a  perfect  little  beauty  ;  and  if  I  can  find  her, 
I  warn  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  to  take  care.  I  Juive  A- 
ready  sent  Hubert  out  in  search  of  her,  and,  by  the  w;iy." 
said  the  earl,  with  a  sudden  increase  of  aniiiuitlon,  "what 
a  wonderful  resemblence  she  bears  to  Hubert — I  could  al- 
most swear  they  were  one  and  the  same ! " 

"  The  likeness  is  marvelous ;  but  I  should  hate  to  take 
such  an  oath.  I  confess  I  am  somewhat  curious  myself ; 
but  I  stand  no  chance  of  having  it  gratified  before  to- 
morrow, I  suppose." 

"  How  those  fires  blaze  I  It  is  ten  degrees  brighter 
than  noonday.  Show  me  the  house  in  which  Leoline 
lives  ?  " 

Ormiston  easily  pointed  it  out,  and  showed  the  earl  the 
light  still  burning  in  her  window. 

"  It  was  in  that  room  we  found  her  first,  dead  of  the 
plague  I " 

"  Dead  of  the  what  ?  "  cried  the  earl,  aghast. 

"Dead  of  the  plague!  I'll  tell  your  lordship  how  it 
was,"  said  Ormiston,  who  forthwith  commenced  and  ;  e- 
lated  the  story  of  their  finding  Leoline ;  of  the  resuseiUi- 
tion  at  the  plague-pit ;  of  the  flight  from  Sir  Normun's 
house,  and  of  the  delirious  plunge  into  the  river,  and  mir- 
aculous cure. 

"  A  marvelous  story,"  commented  the  earl,  much  inter- 
ested. "  And  Leoline  seems  to  have  as  many  lives  as  a 
cat !  Who  can  she  be — a  princess  in  disguise — eh,  Orm- 
iston ?  " 

"  N?av,i  looivi  fit  to  be  a  princess,  or  iuiyihiun-  else  ;  but 


I 


i 


184 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


your  lordship  knows  as  much  about  her,  now,  as  I  do.*' 

"  You  say  she  was  dressed  as  a  bride — how  came  tliat?  " 

"  Simply  enough.  She  was  to  l)e  married  to-night,  had 
she  not  tiiken  the  plague  insttnid." 

"  Married  ?  Why,  I  thought  you  told  me  a  few  min- 
utes ago  she  was  in  love  with  Kingsley.  It  seems  to  me, 
Mr.  Ormiston,  your  remarks  are  a  trifle  inconsistent,"  said 
the  earl,  in  a  tone  of  astonished  displeasure. 

"Nevertheless,  they  are  all  perfectly  true.  IMistross 
Leoline  was  to  have  been  married,  as  1  told  you  ;  Imt  she 
was  to  have  been  married  to  please  her  friends,  and  not 
herself.  She  had  been  in  the  habit  of  watching  Mingsley 
go  past  her  window  ;  and  the  way  she  blushed,  and  went 
though  the  other  little  motions  convinces  me  that  his 
course  of  true  love  will  run  as  smooth  as  this  glassy  river 
runs  at  present." 

"Kingsley  is  a  lucky  fellow.  Will  the  discarded  suitor 
have  no  voice  in  the  matter,  or  is  he  such  a  simpleton  as 
to  give  her  up  at  a  word  ?  " 

Ormiston  laughed. 

"  Ah  I  to  be  sure,  what  will  the  count  say  ?  And,  judg- 
ing from  some  things  I've  heard,  I  should  say  he  is 
violently  in  love  with  her." 

"  Count  who  ?  "  asked  Rochester.  "  Or  has  he,  like  his 
lady-love,  no  other  name  ?  " 

"Oh,  no!  The  name  of  the  gentleman  who  was  so 
nearly  blessed  for  life,  and  missed  it,  is  Count  L'Estrange ! " 

The  earl  had  been  lying  listlessly  back,  only  half  intent 
upon  his  answer,  as  he  watched  the  fire  ;  but  now  he 
sprung  sharply  up,  and  stared  Ormiston  full  in  the  face. 

"  Count  what  did  you  say  ?  "  was  his  eager  question 
Avhile  his  eyes,  more  eager  than  his  voice,  strove  to  read 
the  reply  before  it  was  repeated. 

"  Count  L'Estrange.  You  know  him,  my  lord  ?  "  said 
Ormiston,  quietly. 

"  Ah  I "  said  the  earl.  And  then  such  a  strange,  meaning 
smile  went  wandering  about  his  face.  "  I  have  not  said 
that !  So  his  name  is  Count  L'Estrange  ?  Well,  I  don't 
wonder  now  at  the  girl's  beauty." 

The  earl  sunk  back  to  his  former  nonchalant  position, 
and  fell  for  a  moment  or  two  into  deep  musing  j  and  then, 


■■ 


THE  HIDDEN  FACE. 


i 


185 


as  if  the  whole  thing  struck  l\ini  in  a  new  and  ludicrous 
light,  he  broke  out  into  an  inunodcrate  fit  of  laughter. 
Ormiston  looked  at  him  curiously. 

"  It  is  my  turn  to  ask  questions,  now,  my  lord.  Who 
is  Count  L'Estrange?" 

"  I  know  of  no  such  a  person,  Ormiston.  I  was  thinking 
of  something  else  1  Was  it  Leoline  who  told  you  that  was 
her  lover's  name  ?  " 

**  No ;  I  heard  it  by  mere  accident  from  another  person. 
I  am  sure,  if  Leoline  is  not  a  personage  in  disguise,  he  is." 

"  And  why  do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  An  inward  conviction,  my  lord.  So  you  will  not  tell 
me  who  he  is  ?  " 

"  Have  I  not  told  you  I  know  of  no  such  person  as 
Count  L'Estrange  ?  You  ought  to  believe  me.  Oh,  here 
it  comes." 

This  last  was  addressed  to  a  gieat  drop  of  rain,  which 
splashed  heavily  on  his  upturned  face,  followed  by  an- 
other and  another,  in  quick  succession. 

**  The  storm  is  upon  us,"  said  the  earl,  sitting  up  and 
wrapping  his  cloak  closer  around  him,  "  and  I  am  for 
Whitehall.  Shall  we  land  you,  Ormiston,  or  take  you 
there,  too?" 

•*  I  must  land,"  said  Ormiston.  **  I  have  a  pressing  en- 
gagement for  the  next  half-hour.  Here  it  is,  in  a  perfect 
deluge :  the  fires  will  be  out  in  five  minutes." 

The  barge  touched  the  stairs,  and  Ormiston  sprung  out, 
with  **  gocSi-night "  to  the  earl.  The  rain  was  rushing 
along,  now,  in  torrents,  and  he  ran  up-stairs  and  darted 
into  an  archway  of  the  bridge,  to  seek  for  shelter.  Some 
one  else  had  come  there  before  him,  in  search  of  the  same 
thing ;  for  he  saw  two  dark  figures  standing  within  it  as 
lie  entered. 

"  A  sudden  storm,"  was  Ormiston's  salutation, "  and  a 
furious  one.  There  go  the  fires — hiss  and  splutter.  I 
knew  how  it  would  be." 

"  Then  Sauland  Mr.  Ormiston  are  among  the  proph- 
ets?" 

Ormiston  had  heard  that  voice  before  ;  it  was  associated 
in  his  mind  with  a  slouched  hat  and  shadowy  cloak ;  and 
by  the  fast-fading  flicker  of  the  tiicliglit,  ho  i^iw  tlidt  both 


V 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Sciences 

Corporation 


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186 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


were  here.  The  speaker  was  Count  L'Estrange,  the  figure 
beside  him,  slender  and  boyish,  was  unknown. 

**  You  have  the  advantage  of  me,  sir,"  he  said,  affect- 
ing ignorance.    **  May  I  ask  who  you  are  ?  " 

•*  Certainly,  A  gentleman,  by  courtesy  and  the  grace 
of  God." 

**  And  your  name  ?  " 

«*  Count  L'Estrange,  at  your  service." 

Ormiston  lifted  his  cap  and  bowed,  with  a  feeling,  some- 
how, that  the  count  was  a  man  in  authority. 

**  Mr  Ormiston  a  ssisted  in  doing  a  good  deed  to-night, 
for  a  friend  of  mine,"  said  the  count.  "  Will  he  add  to 
that  obligation  by  telling  me  if  he  has  not  discovered  her 
again,  and  brought  her  back  ?  " 

**  Do  you  refer  to  the  fair  lady  in  yonder  house  ?  " 

«*  So  she  is  there  ?  I  thought  so,  George,"  said  the  count, 
addressing  himself  to  his  companion.  « Yes,  I  refer  to 
!ier,  the  lady  you  saved  from  the  river.  You  brought 
her  there ." 

**  I  brought  her  there,"  replied  Ormiston. 

«« She  is  there  still  ?  " 

**  I  presume  so.    I  have  heard  nothing  to  the  contrary." 

"And  alone?" 

•*  She  may  be,  now.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  was  with 
her  when  I  left  her,  "  said  Ormiston,  administering  the  fact 
with  infinite  relish. 

There  was  a  moment's  silence.  Ormiston  could  not 
see  the  the  count's  face ;  but,  judging  from  his  own  feel- 
ingfs,  he  fcincied  its  expression  must  be  sweet.  The  wild 
rush  of  the  storm  alone  broke  the  silence,  until  the  spirit 
again  moved  the  count  to  speak. 

**By  what  right  does  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  visit  her?" 
he  inquired,  in  a  voice  betokening  not  the  least  particle 
of  emotion. 

**  By  the  best  of  rights — that  of  her  preserver,  hoping 
soon  to  be  her  lover. " 

There  was  another  brief  silence,  broken  again  by  the 
count,  in  the  same  composed  tone : 

*•  Since  the  lady  holds  her  levee  so  late,  I,  too,  must 
have  a  word  with  her,  when  this  deluge  permits  one  to 
fp  abroad  without  danger  of  drowning. 


j» 


THE  HIDDEN  FACE. 


187 


"It  shows  symptoms  of  clearing  off,  already,"  said 
Ormiston,  who,  in  his  secret  heart,  thought  it  would  be 
an  excellent  joke  to  bring  the  rivals  face  to  face  in  the 
lady's  presence ;  "  so  you  will  not  have  long  to  wait." 

To  which  observation  the  count  replied  not ;  and  the 
three  stood  in  silence,  watching  the  hurry  and  fury  of  the 
storm. 

Gradually  it  cleared  away  ;  and  as  the  moon  began  to 
struggle  out  between  the  rifts  in  the  clouds,  the  count  saw 
something  by  her  pale  light  that  Ormiston  saw  not.  That 
latter  gentleman,  standing  with  his  back  to  the  house  of 
Leoline,  and  his  face  toward  that  of  La  Masque,  did  not 
observe  the  return  of  Sir  Norman  from  St.  Paul's,  nor  look 
after  him  as  he  rode  away.  But  the  count  did  both ;  and 
ten  minutes  after,  when  the  rain  had  entirely  ceased,  and 
the  moon  and  stars  got  the  better  of  the  clouds  in  their 
struggle  for  supremacy,  he  beheld  La  Masque  flitting  like 
a  dark  shadow  in  the  same  direction,  and  vanishing  in  at 
Leoline's  door.    The  same  instant,  Ormiston  started  to  go. 

**  The  storm  has  entirely  ceased,"  he  said,  stepping  out 
and  with  the  profound  air  of  one  making  a  new  discovery, 
**  and  we  are  likely  to  have  fine  weather  for  the  remainder 
of  the  night — or  rather  morning.    Good-night,  count. " 

**  Farewell,"  said  the  count,  as  he  and  his  companion 
came  out  from  the  shadow  of  the  archway,  and  turned  to 
follow  La  Masque. 

Ormiston,  thinking  the  hour  of  waiting  had  elapsed, 
and  feeling  much  more  interested  in  the  coming  meeting 
than  in  Leoline  or  her  visitors,  paid  very  little  attention 
to  his  two  acquaintances.  He  saw  them,  it  is  true,  enter 
Leoline's  house,  but  at  the  same  instant,  he  took  up  his 
post  at  La  Masque's  doorway,  and  concentrated  his  whole 
attention  on  that  piece  of  architecture.  Every  moment 
seemed  like  a  week  now ;  and  before  he  had  stood  at  his 
post  five  minutes,  he  had  worked  himself  up  into  a  perfect 
fever  of  impatience.  Somatimes  he  was  inclined  to  knock 
and  seek  La  Masque  in  her  riwn  home ;  but  as  often  the  fear 
of  a  chilling  rebuke  paralyzed  his  hand  when  he  raised  it 
He  was  so  sure  she  was  within  the  house,  that  he  never 
thought  of  looking  for  her  elsewhere ;  and  when,  at  the 
expiration  of  what  seemed  to  him  a  century  or  two,  but 


188 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


I     !• 


which  in  reality  was  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  there  was 
a  soft  rustling  of  drapery  behind  him,  and  the  sweetest 
of  voices  sounded  in  his  ear,  it  fairly  made  him  bound. 

**  Here  again,  Mr.  Ormiston  ?  Is  this  the  fifth  or  sixth 
time  I've  found  you  in  this  place  to-night  ?  " 

**La  Masque  1"  he  cried,  between  joy  and  surprise. 
•*  But  surely,  I  was  not  totally  unexpected  this  time  ?  '* 

"  Perhaps  not.  You  are  waiting  here  for  me  to  redeem 
my  promise,  I  suppose  ?  " 

**  Can  you  doubt  it  ?  Since  I  knew  you  first  I  have  de- 
sired this  hour,  as  the  blind  desire  sight." 

«  Ah  I  And  you  will  find  it  as  sweet  to  look  back  upon 
as  you  have  to  look  forward  to,"  said  La  Masque,  de- 
risively. "  If  you  are  wise  for  your  self,  Mr.  Ormiston, 
you  will  pause  here,  and  give  me  back  that  fatal  word." 

♦*  Never,  madame  I  And  surely  you  will  not  be  so  piti- 
lessly cruel  as  to  draw  back  now  ?  " 

<*  No,  I  have  promised,  and  I  shall  perform ;  and  let  the 
consequences  be  what  they  may,  they  will  rest  upon  your 
own  head.  You  have  been  warned,  and  still  insist." 

"  I  still  insist  1 " 

"  Then  let  us  move  further  over  here  into  the  shadow 
of  the  houses ;  this  moonlight  is  so  dreadfully  bright  1 " 

They  moved  on  into  the  deep  shadow,  and  there  was  a 
pulse  tiirobbing  in  Ormiston's  head  and  heart  like  the  beat- 
ing of  a  muffled  drum.  They  paused  aud  faced  each  other 
silently. 

**  Quick,  madame !  "  cried  Ormiston,  hoarsely,  his  whole 
face  flushed  wildly. 

His  strange  companion  lifted  her  hand  as  if  to  remove 
the  mask,  and  he  saw  that  it  shook  like  an  aspen.  She 
made  one  motion  as  though  about  to  lift  it,  and  then  re- 
ooiled,  as  if  from  herself,  in  a  sort  of  horror. 

**  My  God  I  What  is  this  man  urging  me  to  do  ?  How 
can  I  ever  fulfil  that  fatal  promise  ?  " 

** Madame,  you  torture  me  I"  said  Ormiston,  whose 
face  showed  what  he  felt.  "  You  must  keep  your  prom- 
ise;  so  do  not  drive  me  wild  waiting.    Let  me — " 

He  took  a  step  toward  her,  as  if  to  lift  the  mask  him- 
self, but  she  held  out  both  arms  to  keep  him  off. 

<*  No^  no,  no !    Come  not  near  me,  Malcolm  Ormiston  I 


THE  HIDT)KN  FACE. 


189 


Fated  man,  since  you  will  rush  on  your  doom,  look  I  and 
let  the  sight  blast  you,  if  it  will ! " 

She  unfastened  her  mask,  raised  it,  and  with  it  the  pro- 
fusion of  long,  sweeping  black  hair.  Ormiston  did  look— 
iLT  M  i  l.®T®x  "^^y*  perhaps,  that  Zulieka  looked  at 
the  Veiled  I^ophet-the  next  moment  there  was  a  terrible 
ciy,  and  he  fell  headlong  with  a  crash,  as  if  a  bullet  had 
whizzed  through  his  heart. 


I 


>• 


4*' 


190 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN 


CHAPTEll  XVm. 


THE   INTERVIEW. 


-s. 


I  AM  not  aware  whether  faintmg  was  as  much  the 
fashion  among  the  fair  sex,  in  the  days  (or  rather  the 
nights)  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  hold  fortli,  as  at  the 
present  time ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  not,  from  the 
simple  fact  that  Leoline,  though  like  John  Bunyan, 
**  grievously  troubled  and  tossed  about  in  her  mind,"  did 
nothing  of  the  kind.  For  the  first  few  moments,  she  was 
altogether  too  stunned  by  the  suddenness  of  the  shock  to 
cry  out  or  make  the  least  resistance,  and  was  conscious 
of  nothing  but  of  being  rapidly  borne  along  in  somebody's 
arms.  When  this  hazy  view  of  things  passed  away,  her 
ne\/  sensation  was  the  intensely  uncomfortable  one  of 
being  on  the  verge  of  suffocation.  She  made  one  frantic 
but  futile  effort  to  free  herself  and  scream  for  help,  but 
the  strong  arms  held  her  with  most  loving  tightness,  and 
her  cry  was  drowned  in  the  hot  atmosphere  within  the 
shawl,  and  never  penetrated  through  it.  Most  assureldy 
Leoline  would  have  been  smothered  then  and  there  had 
their  journey  been  much  longer ;  but,  fortunately  for  her, 
it  was  only  the  few  yards  between  her  house  and  the 
river.  She  knew  she  was  then  carried  down  some  st{;i)s, 
and  she  heard  the  dip  of  the  oars  in  the  water, 
and  then  her  bearer  paused,  and  went  through  a  short 
dialogue  with  somebody  else — with  Count  L'Estraiige, 
she  rather  felt  than  knew,  for  nothing  was  audible  but 
a  low  murmur.  The  only  word  she  could  make  out  was  a 
low,  emphatic  "  Remember ! "  in  the  count's  voice ;  and 
then  she  knew  she  was  in  a  boat,  and  that  it 
was  shoved  off,  and  moving  down  the  rapid  river.  The 
feeling  ot  heat  and  suffocation  was  dreadful ;  and  as  her 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


101 


but 
ras  a 

and 
it    it 

The 
her 


abductor  placed  her  on  some  cushions,  she  made  anothei 
desperate  but  feeble  effort  to  free  herself  from  the 
smothering  shawl,  but  a  hand  was  laid  lightly  on  hers, 
and  a  voice  interposed : 

"  Lady,  it  is  quite  useless  for  you  to  struggle,  as  you 
are  irrevocably  in  my  power,  but  if  you  will  promise 
faithfully  not  to  make  any  outcry,  and  will  submit  to  be 
blindfolded,  I  shall  remove  this  oppressive  muffling  from 
your  head.    Tell  me  if  you  will  promise." 

He  had  partly  raised  the  shawl,  and  a  gush  of  free  air 
came  revivingly  in,  and  enabled  Leoline  to  gasp  out  a 
faint  **  I  promise !  "  As  she  spoke,  it  was  lifted  off  alto- 
gether, and  she  caught  one  bright  fleeting  glimpse  of  the 
river,  sparkling  and  silvery  in  the  moonlight ;  of  the 
bright,  blue  sky,  gemmed  with  countless  stars,  and  of 
some  one  by  her  side  in  the  dress  of  a  court-page,  whose 
face  was  perfectly  unknown  to  her.  The  next  instant,  a 
bandage  was  bound  tightly  over  her  eyes,  excluding  every 
ray  of  light,  while  the  strange  voice  again  spoke  apol- 
ogetically : 

"  Pardon,  lady,  but  it  is  my  orders  I  I  am  commanded 
to  treat  you  with  every  respect,  but  not  to  let  you  see 
where  you  are  borne  to." 

"  By  what  right  does  Count  L'E8tralx^^  commit  this 
outrage  ?  "  began  Leoline,  almost  as  imperiously  as  Mir- 
anda herself  and  making  use  of  her  tongue,  like  a  true 
woman,  in  the  very  first  moment  it  was  at  her  disposal. 
"  How  dare  he  carry  me  off  in  this  atrocious  way  ?  Who- 
ever you  are,  sir,  if  you  have  the  spirit  of  a  man,  you  will 
bring  me  directly  back  to  my  own  house  again." 

"I  am  very  sorry,  lady,  that  I  have  received  orders 
that  must  be  obeyed  I  You  must  come  with  me,  but  you 
need  fear  nothing ;  you  will  be  as  safe  and  secure  as  in 
your  own  home." 

"  Secure  enough,  no  doubt  1 "  said  Leoline,  bitterly.  "  I 
never  did  like  Count  L'Estrange,  but  I  never  knew  he 
was  a  coward  and  villain  till  now ! " 

Her  companion  made  no  reply  to  this  forcible  address, 
and  there  was  a  moment's  indignant  silence  on  Leoline's 
part,  broken  only  by  the  dip  oi  the  oars,  and  the  rippliog 
of  the  water.    Then; 


192 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


r 


'  I 


"  Will  you  not  tell  me,  at  least,  where  you  are  taking  me 
to?"  haughtily  demanded  Leoline. 
«*  Lady,  I  cannot  I    It  was  to  prevent  you  knowing  that 
'  you  have  been  blindfolded." 

*»  Oh,  your  master  has  a  faithful  servant,  I  see  1  How 
long  am  I  to  be  kept  a  prisoner  ?  " 
.     *♦  I  do  not  know." 

*  «  Where  is  Count  L'Estrange  ?  " 
**  I  cannot  tell." 

♦*  When  am  1  to  see  him  ?  " 
"  "I  cannot  say." 
"Hah I"   said  Leoline,  with    infinite  contempt,  and 
,  turning  her  back  upon  him,  she  relapsed  into  gloomy  si- 
lence.   It  had  all  been  so  sudden,  and  had  taken  her  so 

•  much  by  surprise,  that  she  had  not  had  time  to  think  of 
the  consequences  until  now.  But  now  they  came  upon 
her  with  a  rush,  and  with  dismal  distinctness ;  and  most 
distinct  among  all  was,  what  would  Sir  Norman  say  I  Of 
course,  with  all  a  lover's  impatience,  he  would  be  at  his 
post  by  sunrise,  would  come  back  to  look  for  his  bride,  and 
find  himself  sold  I  By  that  time  she  would  be  far  enough 
away,  perhaps  a  melancholy  corpse  (and  at  this  dreary 
passage  in  her  meditations,  Leoline  sighed  profoundly), 
and  he  would  never  know  what  had  become  of  her,  or 
how  much  and  how  long  she  had  loved  him.  And  this 
hateful  Count  L*Estrange,  what  did  he  intend  to  do  with 
her  ?  Perhaps  go  so  far  as  to  make  her  marry  him,  and 
imprison  her  with  the  rest  of  his  wives  ;  for  Leoline  was 
prepared  to  think  the  very  worst  of  the  count,  and  had 
not  the  slightest  doubt  that  he  had  a  harem  full  of  ab- 
ducted wives  somewhere,  already.    But   no— he  never 

■  could  do  that ;  he  might  do  what  he  liked  with  weaker 
minds,  but  she  never  would  be  a  bride  of  his  while  the 
plague  or  poison  was  to  be  had  in  London.  And  with 
this  invincible  determination  rooted  fixedly,  not  to  say 
obstinately,  in  her  mind,  she  was  nearly  pitched  over- 
board by  the  boat  suddenly  landing  at  some  unexpected 
place.  A  little  natural  scream  of  terror  was  repressed 
on  her  lips  by  a  hand  being  placed  over  them,  and  the 
determined  but  perfectly  respectful  tones  of  the  person 
beside  her  speaking. 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


1^8 


that 
EIow 


and 

ny  si- 
ler  so 
nk  of 


iison 


"Remember  your  promitie,  l.arly,  and  do  not  make  a 
noise.  We  have  arrived  at  our  journey's  end ;  and  if  you 
will  take  my  arm,  I  will  lead  you  along,  instead  of  carry- 
hig  you." 

Leoline  was  rather  surprised  to  find  the  journey  so 
short,  but  she  arose  directly,  with  silence  and  dignity — at 
least  with  as  much  of  the  latter  commodity  as  could  be 
reasonably  expected,  considering  that  boats  on  water  are 
rather  unsteady  things  to  be  dignified  in — and  was  led 
gently  and  with  care  out  of  the  swaying  vessel,  and  up 
another  flight  of  stairs.  Then  in  a  few  moments,  she  was 
conscious  of  passing  from  the  free  night  air  into  the  closer 
atmosphere  of  a  house ;  and  in  going  through  an  endless 
labyrinth  of  corridors,  and  passages,  and  suites  of  rooms, 
and  flights  of  stairs,  until  she  became  so  extremely  tired 
that  she  stopped  with  spirited  abruptness,  and  in  the 
plainest  possible  English  gave  her  conductor  to  under- 
stand that  they  had  gone  about  far  enough  for  all  practical 
purposes.  To  which  that  patient  and  respectful  individual 
replied  that  he  was  glad  to  inform  her  they  had  but  a  few 
more  steps  to  go,  which  the  next  moment  proved  to  be 
true,  for  he  stopped  and  announced  that  their  promenade 
was  over  for  the  night. 

"  And  I  suppose  I  may  have  the  use  of  my  eyes  at  last  ?  ** 
inquired  Leoline,  with  more  haughtiness  than  Sir  Norman 
could  have  believed  possible  so  gentle  a  voice  could  have 
expressed. 

For  reply,  her  companion  rapidly  untied  the  bandage, 
and  withdrew  it  with  a  flourish.  The  dazzling  brightness 
that  burst  upon  her  so  blinded  her  that,  for  a  moment,  she 
could  distinguish  nothing ;  and  when  she  looked  round  to 
contemplate  her  companion,  she  found  him  hurriedly 
making  his  exit,  and  securely  locking  the  door.  The  sound 
of  the  key  turning  in  the  lock  gave  her  a  most  peculiar 
sensation,  which  none  but  those  who  have  experienced  it 
can  prop  ^rly  understand.  It  is  not  the  most  comfortable 
feeling  in  the  world  to  know  you  are  a  prisoner,  even  if 
you  have  no  key  turned  upon  you  but  the  weather,  and 
your  jailer  be  a  high  east  wind  and  lashing  rain.  Leoline's 
prison  and  jailer  were  something  worse ;  and,  for  the  first 
time,  a  cold  chill  of  fear  and  dismay  crept  icily  to  the  core 


I 


194 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


of  her  heart.  But  Leoline  had  something  of  Miranda's 
courage,  as  well  as  her  looks  and  temper ;  so  she  tried  to 
feel  as  brave  as  possible,  and  not  think  of  her  unpleasant 
predicament  while  there  remained  anytliiug  else  to  think 
about.  Perhaps  she  might  escape,  too ;  and  as  this  notion 
struck  her,  she  looked  with  eager  anxiety,  not  unmixed 
with  curiosity,  at  the  place  where  she  was.  By  this  time 
her  eyes  had  been  accustomed  to  the  light,  which  pro- 
ceeded from  a  great  antique  lamp  of  bronze,  pendent  by  a 
brass  chain  from  the  ceiling ;  and  she  saw  she  was  in  a 
moderately-sized  and  by  no  means  splendid  room.  But 
what  struck  her  most  was  that  everything  had  a  look  of 
age  about  it,  from  the  glittering  oak  beams  of  the  floor  to 
the  faded,  ghostly  hangings  on  the  wall.  There  was  a  bed 
at  one  end — a  great,  spectral  ark  of  a  thing,  like  a  mauso- 
leum, with  drapery  as  old  and  spectral  as  that  on  the  walls, 
and  in  which  she  could  no  more  have  lain  than  in  a  moth- 
eaten  shroud.  The  seats  and  the  one  table  the  room  held 
were  of  the  same  ancient  and  weird  pattern,  and  gave  her 
a  shivermg  sensation  not  unlike  an  ague  chill,  to  look  at. 
There  was  but  one  door — a  huge  structure,  with  shining 
panels,  securely  locked ;  and  escape  from  that  quarter  was 
utterly  out  of  the  question.  There  was  one  window,  hung 
with  dark  curtains  of  tarnished  embroidery,  but  in  push- 
ing them  aside  she  met  only  a  dull  blank  of  unlighted 
glass,  for  the  shutters  were  firmly  secured  without.  Alto- 
gether, she  could  not  form  the  slightest  idea  where  she 
was ;  and,  with  a  feeling  of  utter  despair,  she  sat  down  on 
one  of  the  queer  old  chairs,  with  much  the  same  feeling  as 
if  she  were  sitting  in  a  tomb.  What  would  Sir  Norman 
say  ?  "What  would  he  ever  think  of  her,  when  he  found 
her  gone  ?  And  what  was  destined  to  be  her  fate  in  this 
dreadful,  out-of-the-way  place  ?  She  would  have  cried,  as 
most  of  her  sex  would  be  tempted  to  do  in  such  a  situa- 
tion, but  that  her  dislike  and  horror  of  Count  L'Estrange 
was  a  good  deal  stronger  than  her  grief,  and  turned  her 
tears  to  sparks  of  indignant  fire.  Never,  never,  never  I 
would  she  be  his  wife !  He  might  kill  her  a  thousand 
times,  if  he  liked,  and  she  wouldn't  yield  an  inch.  She 
did  not  mind  dying -in  a  good  cause;  she  could  do  it  but 
once.    And  with  Sir  Norman  despising  her,  as  she  felt  hQ 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


106 


hQ 


must  do,  when  he  found  her  run  away,  she  rather  liked 
the  idea  than  otherwise.  Mentally,  she  bade  adieu  to  all 
her  friends  before  beginning  to  prepare  for  her  melancholy 
fate — to  her  handsome  lover,  to  his  g^allant  friend,  Ormis- 
ton,  to  her  poor  nurse,  Prudence,  and  to  her  mysterious 
visitor,  Jja  Masque.  La  Masque.  Ah !  that  name  awoke 
a  new  chord  of  recollection — the  casket ;  she  had  it  with 
her  yet.  Instantly  everything  was  forgotten  but  it  and 
its  contents ;  and  she  placed  a  chair  directly  under  the 
lamp,  drew  it  out,  and  looked  at  it.  It  was  a  pretty  little 
bijou  itself,  with  its  polished  ivory  surface,  and  shining 
clasps  of  silver.  But  the  inside  had  far  more  interest  for 
her  than  the  outside,  and  she  fitted  the  key  and  unlocked 
it  with  a  trembling  hand.  It  was  lined  with  azure  velvet, 
wrought  with  silver  thread,  in  dainty  wreaths  of  water- 
lilies  ;  and  in  the  bottom,  neatly  folded  lay  a  sheet  of 
foolscap.  She  opened  it  with  nervous  haste ;  it  was  a 
common  sheet  enough,  stamped  with  fool's  cap  and  bells, 
that  showed  it  belonged  to  Cromweirs  time.  It  was  closely 
written,  in  a  light,  fair  hand,  and  bore  the  title,  **  Leoline's 
History."  Leoline's  hand  trembled  so  with  eagerness,  she 
could  scarcely  hold  the  paper ;  but  her  eye  rapidly  ran 
from  line  to  line,  and  she  stopped  not  till  she  reached  the 
end.  While  she  read  her  face  alternately  flushed  and 
paled,  her  eyes  dilated,  her  lips  parted ;  and  before  she 
finished  it,  there  came  over  all  a  look  of  the  most  unutter- 
able horror.  It  dropped  from  her  powerless  fingers  as 
she  finished ;  and  she  sunk  back  in  her  chair  with  such  a 
ghastly  paleness  that  it  seemed  absolutely  like  the  livid- 
ness  of  death. 

A  sudden  and  startling  noise  awoke  her  from  her  trance 
of  horror — some  one  trying  to  get  in  at  the  window  I 
The  chill  of  terror  it  sent  through  every  vein  acted  as  a 
sort  of  counter-irritant  to  the  other  feeling,  and  she  sprung 
from  her  chair  and  turned  her  face  fearfully  towards  the 
sounds.  But  in  all  her  terror  she  did  not  forget  the 
mysterious  sheet  of  foolscap,  which  lay,  looking  up  at  her, 
on  the  floor ;  and  she  snatched  it  up,  and  thrust  it  and  the 
casket  out  of  sight.  Still  the  sounds  went  on,  but  softly 
and  cautiously;  and  at  intervals,  as  if  the  worker  were 
afraid  of  being  heard.    Leoline  went  back,  step  by  step, 


106 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


to  the  other  extremity  of  the  room,  with  her  eyes  still 
fascinated  to  the  window,  and  a  white  terror,  that  left  her 
perfectly  colorless,  on  her  beautiful  face.  Who  could  it 
be  ?  Not  Count  L'Estrange,  for  he  would  surely  not  need 
to  enter  his  own  house  like  a  burglar — not  Sir  Norman 
Kingsley,  for  he  could  certainly  not  tind  out  lier  abduc- 
tion and  her  prison  so  soon,  and  she  had  iv)  other  friends 
in  the  whole  wide  world  to  trouble  themselves  about  ber. 
There  was  one ;  but  the  idea  of  ever  seeing  her  again  was 
so  unspeakably  dreadful  that  she  would  nither  have  seen 
the  most  horrible  specter  h  r  imagination  could  conjure 
up  than  that  tall,  graceful,  rich-robed  form.  Still  the 
noises  perseveringly  continued ;  there  was  the  sound  of 
withdrawing  bolts,  and  then  a  pale  ray  of  nwonlight  shot 
between  the  parted  curtains,  showing  the  shutters  had  been 
opened.  Whiter  and  whiter  Leoline  grew,  and  she  felt 
herself  growing  cold  and  rigid  with  mortal  fear.  Softly 
the  window  was  raised,  a  hand  stole  in  and  parted  the  cur- 
tains, and  a  pale  face  and  two  great  dark  eyes  wandered 
slowly  round  the  room,  and  rested  at  last  on  her,  stand- 
ing like  a  galvanized  corpse,  as  far  from  the  window  as 
the  wall  would  permit.  The  hand  was  lifted  in  a  warning 
gesture,  as  if  to  enforce  silence  ;  the  window  was  raised 
still  higher,  a  figure,  lithe  and  agile  as  a  cat,  sprung  lightly 
into  the  room,  and  standing  with  his  back  to  her,  reclosed 
the  shutters,  reshut  the  window,  and  redrew  the  curtains, 
before  taking  the  trouble  to  turn  round.  This  discreet 
little  maneuver,  which  showed  her  visitor  was  human, 
and  gifted  with  human  prudence,  reassured  Leoline  a  little, 
and,  to  judge  by  the  reverse  of  the  medal,  the  nocturnal 
intruder  was  nothing  very  formidable  after  all.  But  tlu^ 
stranger  did  not  keep  her  long  in  suspense ;  v/hile  fIk 
stood  gazing  at  him,  as  if  fascinated,  he  turned  rouiid, 
stepped  forward,  took  off  his  cap,  made  her  a  courtly  bow, 
and  then  straightening  himself  up,  prepared,  with  groat 
coolness,  to  scrutinize  and  be  scrutinized.  Well  might 
they  look  at  each  other ;  for  the  two  faces  were  perfectly 
the  same  and  each  one  saw  themselves  as  others  saw  them 
There  was  the  sjime  coal-black,  curling  hair ;  the  same 
lustrous  dark  eyes,  the  same  clear,  colorless  complexion, 
the  same  delicate,  perfect  features  j  nothhig  was  different 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


197 


It 


but  the  costume  and  the  expression.  That  latter  was 
essentially  different,  for  the  young  lady's  (place  attx  (iamea) 
betrayed  amazement,  terror,  doubt,  and  delight,  all  at 
once;  while  the  young  gentleman's  was  a  grand,  careless 
surprise,  mixed  with  just  a  dash  of  curiosity.  He  was  the 
first  to  spoak ;  and  after  they  had  stared  at  each  other  for 
the  space  of  live  minutes,  he  descril)ed  a  graceful  sweep 
with  his  hand,  and  held  forth  in  the  following  strain : 

**  I  greatly  fear,  fair  I  <3oline,  that  I  have  startled  you 
by  my  sudden  and  surprising  entrance  ;  and  if  I  have  been 
the  cause  of  a  moment's  alarm  to  one  so  perfectly  beauti- 
ful, I  shall  hate  myself  forever  after.  If  I  could  have 
got  in  any  other  way,  rest  assured  I  would  not  have  risked 
my  neck  and  your  peace  of  mind  by  such  a  suspicious 
means  of  ingress  as  the  window ;  but  if  you  will  take  the 
trouble  to  notice,  that  door  is  thick,  and  I  am  composed 
of  too  solid  flesh  to  whisk  through  the  keyhole ;  so  I  had 
to  make  my  appearance  the  best  way  I  could." 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  faintly  asked  lieoline. 

**  Your  friend,  fair  lady,  and  Sir  Norman  Kingfsley's.** 

Hubert  looked  to  see  Leoline  start  and  blush,  and  was 
deeply  gratified  to  see  her  do  both  ;  and  her  whole  pretty 
countenance  became  alive  with  new-born  hope,  as  if  that 
name  were  a  magic  talisman  of  freedom  and  joy. 

"  What  is  your  name,  and  who  are  you  ?  "  she  inquired, 
in  a  breathless  sort  of  way,  that  made  Hubert  look  at  her 
a  moment  in  calm  astonishment. 

"  I  have  told  you — your  friend ;  christened,  at  some  re- 
mote period,  Hubert.  For  further  particulars,  apply  to 
the  Earl  of  Rochester^  whose  page  I  am." 

"  The  Earl  of  Rochester's  page ! "  she  repeated,  in  the 
same  quick,  excited  way,  that  surprised  and  rather  lowered 
her  in  that  good  youth's  opinion,  for  giving  way  to  any 
feelings  so  plebeian.    "  It  is — it  must  be  the  same  I  " 

*♦!  have  no  doubt  of  it,"  said  Hubert.  "The  same 
what  ?  " 

"Did  you  not  come  from  France — from  Dijon,  re- 
cently ?  "  went  on  Leolhie,  rather  inappositely,  as  it  struck 
her  hearer. 

"Certamly  I  came  from  Dijon.  Had  I  the  honor  of 
being  known  to  you  there  ?  , 


1»8 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


11 


II 


ri 


•V 


"  How  strange  1  How  wonderful ! "  said  Leoline,  with 
a  paling  cheek  and  quickened  breathing.  "  How  mysteri- 
ous tnose  things  turn  out!  Thank  Heaven  that  I  have 
found  some  one  to  love  at  last !  ^ 

This  speech,  which  was  Greek,  algebra,  high  Dutch,  or 
thersabouts,  to  Master  Hubert,  caused  him  to  stare  to 
8Ut  h  an  extent  that,  when  he  came  to  think  of  it  after- 
ward, positively  shocked  him.  The  two  great,  wandering 
dark  eyss  transfixing  her  with  so  much  amazement 
bi*ought  Leoline  to  a  sense  of  her  talking  unfathomable 
mysteries,  quite  incomprehensible  to  her  handsome  auditor. 
She  looked  at  him  with  a  smile,  held  out  her  hand ;  and 
Hubert  received  a  strange  little  electric  thrill,  to  see  that 
her  eyes  were  full  of  tears.  He  took  the  hand  and  raised 
it  to  his  lips,  wondering  if  the  young  lady,  stinick  by  his 
good  looks,  had  conceived  a  rash  and  inordinate  attack  of 
love  at  first  sight,  and  was  about  to  offer  herself  to  him 
and  discard  Sir  Norman  forever.  From  these  speculations 
the  sweet  voice  aroused  him. 

**  You  have  told  me  who  you  are.  Now,  do  you  know 
who  I  am?" 

"  I  hope  so,  fairest  Ijcoline.  I  know  you  are  the  most 
beautiful  lady  in  England,  and  to-morrow  will  be  called 
Lady  Kingsley ! " 

»*  I  am  something  more,"  said  Leoline,  holding  his  hand 
between  both  hers,  and  bending  near  him.  « I  am  your 
sister ! " 

The  earl  of  Rochester's  page  must  have  had  good  blood 
in  his  veins ;  for  never  was  there  duke,  grandee,  or  peer 
of  the  realm,  more  radically  and  unaffectedly  nonchalant 
than  he.  To  this  unexpected  announcement  he  listened 
with  most  dignified  and  well-bred  comjiosure,  and  in 
his  secret  heart,  or  rather  vanity,  more  disappointed 
than  otherwise,  to  find  his  first  solution  of  her  ten- 
derness a  great  mistake.  Leoline  held  his  hand  tight 
in  hers,  zjid  looked  with  loving  and  tearful  eyes  in  his 
face. 

**  Dear  Hubert,  you  are  my  brother — my  long-unknown 
brother ;  and  I  love  you  with  my  whole  heart  1 " 

**  Am  I  ?  "  said  Hubert.  "  I  dare  say  I  am  ;  for  they 
all  say  we  look  as  much  alike  as  two  peas.    I  am  exce&- 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


199 


Bively  delighted  to  hear  it,  and  to  know  that  you  love  me. 
Permit  me  to  embrace  my  new  relative." 

With  which  the  court  page  kissed  Leoline  with  em- 
phasis, while  she  scarcely  knew  whether  to  laugh,  cry,  or 
be  provoked  at  his  composure.  On  the  whole,  she  did 
a  little  of  all  three,  and  pushed  him  away  with  a  half 
pout. 

"You  insensible  mortal!  How  can  you  stand  there 
and  hear  that  you  have  found  a  sister,  with  so  much  in- 
difference?" 

"  Indifferent  ?  Not  I !  You  have  no  idea  how  wildly 
excited  I  am  ! "  said  Hubert,  in  a  voice  not  betokening 
the  slightest  emotion.  **  How  did  you  find  it  out,  Leo- 
line  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  I  I  shall  tell  you  that  again.  You  don>- 
doubt  ?t,  I  hope?" 

"  Of  course  not.  I  knew  from  the  first  moment  I  set 
eyes  on  you,  that  if  you  were  not  my  sister  you  ought  to 
be  I    I  wish  you*d  tell  me  all  the  particulars,  Leoline." 

*<  I  shall  do  so  as  soon  as  I  am  out  of  this ;  but  how 
can  I  tell  you  anything  here  ?  " 

"That's  true? "said  Hubert,  reflectively.  "Well,  III 
wait.  Now,  don't  you  wonder  how  I  found  you  out  and 
came  here  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  do.    How  was  it,  Hubert  ?  " 

"  Oh,  well,  I  don't  know  as  I  can  altogether  tell  you ; 
but  you  see,  Sir  Norman  Eingsley  being  possessed  of  an 
inspiration  that  something  was  happening  to  you,  came 
to  your  house  a  short  time  ago,  and  found  you,  as  he  sus- 
pected, missing.  I  met  him  there,  rather  depressed  in 
his  mind  about  it>  and  he  told  me — beginning  tke  con- 
versation, I  must  say,  in  a  very  excited  manner,"  said 
Hubert,  parenthetically,  as  memory  recalled  the  furious 
shaking  he  had  undergone — "  And  he  told  me  he  fancied 
you  were  abducted,  and  by  one  Count  L'Estrange.  Now, 
I  had  a  hazy  idea  who  Count  L'Estrange  was,  and  where 
he  would  be  most  apt  to  take  you  to,  and  so  I  came  here 
and  after  some  searching,  more  inquiring,  and  a  few 
unmitigated  falsehoods  (you'll  regret  to  hear),  discovered 
you  were  locked  up  in  this  place,  and  siu^cecrled  in  getting 
m  through  the  window.    Sir  Nprmfvn  i;^  wailing  for  me, 


i) 


200 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


in  a  state  of  distraction ;  so  now,  having  found  you,  I  will 
go  and  relieve  his  mind  by  reporting  accordingly." 

**  And  leave  me  here  ?  "  cried  Leoline,  in  affright,  "  and 
in  the  power  of  Count  L'Estrange  ?  Oh,  no !  no !  You 
must  take  me  with  you,  Hubert ! " 

"  My  dear  Leoline,  it  is  quite  impossible  to  do  it  with- 
out help,  and  without  a  ladder.  I  will  return  to  Sir 
Norman;  and  when  the  darkness  comes,  thut  precedcj 
day-dawn,  we  will  raise  the  ladder  to  your  window,  and 
try  to  get  you  out.  Be  patient — only  wait  an  hour  or 
two,  and  then  you  will  be  free." 

"  But  oh,  Hubert !  where  am  I  ?  What  dreadful  place 
is  this?" 

**  Why,  I  do  not  know  that  this  is  a  very  dreadful  place ; 
and  most  people  consider  it  a  sufficiently  respectable 
house ;  but  still  I  would  rather  see  my  sister  anywhere 
else  than  in  it,  and  will  take  the  trouble  of  kidnapping 
her  out  of  i^  as  quickly  as  possible." 

"But,  Hubert,  tell  me — do  teU  me,  who  is  Count 
L'Estrange?"    Hubert  laughed. 

"  Cannot,  really,  Leoline  I  at  least,  not  until  to-morrow, 
and  you  are  Lady  Kingsley." 

**  But,  what  if  he  should  come  here  to-night  ?  " 

**I  do  not  think  there  is  much  danger  of  that;  but 
whether  he  does  or  not,  reL,t  assured  you  shall  be  free 
to-morrow !  At  all  events,  it  is  quite  impossible  for  you 
to  escape  with  me  now ;  and  even  as  it  is,  I  run  the  risk 
of  being  detected,  and  made  a  prisoner  of,  myself.  You 
must  be  patient  and  wait,  Leoline,  and  trust  to  Providence 
and  your  brother  Hubert  I " 

♦*  I  must,  I  suppose !  "  said  Leoline,  sighing ;  «  and  you 
cannot  take  me  away  until  day-dawn  ?  " 

**  Quite  impossible  ;  and  then  all  this  drapery  of  yours 
will  be  ever  so  much  in  the  way.  Would  you  object  to 
garments  like  these  ? "  pointing  to  his  doublet  and  hose. 
"  If  you  would  not,  I  think  I  could  procure  you  a  fit-out." 

*♦  But  I  should,  though ! "  said  Leoline,  with  spirit, 
*♦  and  most  decidedly,  too  I  I  shall  wear  nothing  of  the 
kmd.  Sir  Page  !  " 

**  Every  one  to  their  fancy,"  said  Hubert,  with  a  French 
l^hru^y  **  and  my  pretty  sieter  shall  have  hers^  in  spite  qf 


THE  INTERVIEW. 


201 


earth,  air,  fire,  and  water!    And  now,  fair  Leoline,  for  a 
brief  time,  adieu,  and  au  revoir  !  " 

**  You  will  not  faU  me  I"  exclaimed  Leoline,  earnestly, 
clasping  her  hands.  ^^ 

SJ^  \  ^""'W  ^^^^  ^  *^®  ^^^^^  ^^^'^^  ^  will  fail  in  on 
shiu  be  free!''^°^  alive  by  to-morrow  morning,  Leoline 

!!  And  you  will  be  careful— you  will  both  be  careful  ?  " 
Ji-xcessively  careful !    Now  then." 

The  last  two  words  were  addressed  to  the  window. 
Which  he  noiselessly  opened  as  he  spoke.  Leoline  cau^lit 
a  glimpse  of  the  bright,  free  moonlight,  and  watched  \\\m 
with  desperate  envy  ;  but  the  next  moment  the  shutters 
were  closed,  and  Hubert  and  the  moonlight  were  both 


202 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


■ 


f  ■• 


■    ! 

,1 

i 
i  '4 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


HUBERT  S   WHISPER. 


Sib  Norman  Kixgsley's  consternation  and  horror  on 
discovering  the  dead  body  of  his  friend,  was  only  equaled 
by  his  amazement  as  to  how  he  got  there,  or  how  he  came 
to  be  dead  at  all.  The  livid  face  upturned  to  the  moon- 
light, was  unmistakably  the  face  of  a  dead  man — it  was 
no  swoon,  no  deception,  like  Leoline's ;  for  the  blue, 
ghastly  paleness  that  marks  the  flight  of  the  soul  from 
the  body  was  stamped  on  every  rigid  feature.  Yet,  Sir 
Norman  could  not  realize  it.  We  all  know  how  hard  it 
is  to  realize  the  death  of  a  friend  from  whom  we  have  but 
lately  parted  in  full  health  and  life,  and  Ormiston's  death 
was  so  sudden.  Why,  it  was  not  quite  two  hours  since 
they  had  parted  in  Leoline's  house,  and  even  the  plague 
could  not  carry  off  a  victim  as  quickly  as  this.  **  Ormis- 
ton !  Ormiston ! "  he  called,  between  grief  and  dismay,  as 
he  raised  him  in  his  arms,  with  his  hand  over  the  stilled 
heart ;  but  Ormiston  answered  not,  and  the  heart  gave 
no  pulsation  beneath  his  fingers.  He  tore  open  his  doub- 
let, as  the  thought  of  the  plague  flashed  through  his  mind, 
but  no  plague-spot  was  to  be  seen,  and  it  was  quite  evi- 
dent from  the  appearance  of  the  face  that  he  had  not  died 
of  the  distemper,  neither  was  there  any  wound  or  mark 
to  show  tlmt  he  had  met  his  end  violently.  Yet  the  cold, 
white  face  was  convulsed,  as  if  he  had  died  in  throes  of 
agony ;  the  hands  were  clinched,  till  the  nails  sunk  into 
the  flesh ;  and  that  was  the  only  outward  sign  or  token 
that  he  had  suffered  in  expiring.  Sir  Norman  was  com- 
pletely at  a  loss,  and  half  beside  himself,  with  a  thousand 
conflicting  feelings  of  sorrow,  astonishment,  and  mysti- 
floatlon,    The  rapid  and  exciting  events  of  the  night  had 


HUBERT'S  WHIISPKR. 


^08 


turned  his  head  mto  a  mental  chaos,  as  they  very  well 
might,  but  he  still  had  common  sense  enough  left  to  know 
that  something  must  be  done  about  this  immediately. 
He  knew  the  best  place  to  take  Ormiston  was  to  the 
nearest  apothecary's  shop,  which  establishments  were 
generally  open,  and  filled  the  whole  livelong  night,  by 
the  sick  and  their  friends.  As  he  was  meditating 
whether  or  not  to  call  the  surly  watchman  to  help  him 
carry  the  body,  a  pest-cart  came,  providentially,  along, 
and  the  driver — seeing  a  young  man  bending  over  a  pros- 
trate form — ^guessed  at  once  what  was  the  matter,  and 
came  to  a  halt. 

"  Another  one ! "  he  said,  coming  leisurely  up,  and  glan- 
cing at  the  lifeless  form  with  a  cool,  professional  eye. 
**  Well,  I  think  there  is  room  for  another  one  in  the  cart ; 
80  bear  a  hand,  friend,  and  let  us  have  him  out  of  this." 

**You  are  mistaken! "  said  Sir  Norman,  sharply;  **he 
has  not  died  of  the  plague.  I  am  not  even  ceii;ain  whether 
he  is  dead  at  all ! " 

The  driver  looked  at  Sir  Norman,  then  stooped  down 
and  touched  Ormiston's  icy  face,  and  listened  to  hear  him 
breathe.  He  stood  up  after  a  moment,  with  something 
like  a  short  laugh. 

♦*  If  he's  alive,"  he  said,  turning  to  go,  "  then  I  never 
saw  any  one  dead  I  Grood-night,  sir.  I  wish  you  joy 
when  you  bring  him  to." 

"  Stay !  "  exclaimed  the  young  man.  « I  wish  you  to 
assist  me  in  bringing  him  to  yonder  apotliecary's  shop, 
and  you  may  have  this  for  your  pains." 

"  This  "  proved  to  be  a  talisman  of  alacrity ;  for  the 
man  pocketed  it,  and  briskly  laid  hold  of  Ormiston  by  the 
feet,  while  Sir  Norman  wrapped  his  cloak  reverently  about 
him,  and  took  him  by  the  shoulders.  In  this  style  the 
body  was  conveyed  to  the  apothecary's  shop,  which  they 
found  half  full  of  applicants  for  medicine,  among  whom 
their  entrance  with  the  corpse  produced  no  greater  sensa- 
tion than  a  momentary  stare.  The  attire  and  bearing  of 
Sir  Norman  proving  him  to  be  something  different  from 
their  usual  class  of  visitors,  brought  one  of  the  drowsy 
apprentices  immediately  to  his  side,  inquiring  what  werQ 
bis  orders. 


d04 


i 


• 


•THE  MIDOTOHT  QtJEEN. 


"A  private  room,  and  your  master's  attendance  di- 
rectly," was  the  authoritative  reply. 

Both  were  to  be  had ;  the  former,  a  hole  in  the  wall 
behind  the  shop ;  the  latter,  a  pallid,  cadaverous-looking 
person,  with  the  air  of  one  who  had  been  dead  a  week, 
thought  better  of  it,  and  rose  again.  There  was  a  long 
table  in  the  aforesaid  hole  in  the  wall,  bearing  a  strong 
family  likeness  to  a  dissecting-table ;  upon  this  the  stark 
figure  was  laid,  and  the  pest-cart  driver  disappeared.  The 
apothecary  held  a  light  close  to  the  face ;  applied  his  ear 
to  the  mouth  and  heart ;  held  a  pocket-mirror  over  his 
lips,  looked  at  it,  shook  his  head ;  and  set  down  the  candle 
with  decision. 

'*  The  man  is  dead,  sir  I  "  was  his  criticism,  "  dead  as  a 
door  nail  I  All  the  medicine  in  my  shop  wouldn't  kindle 
one  spark  of  life  in  these  ashes  I  " 

**  At  least,  try  I  Try  something — ^bleeding,  for  an  in- 
stance," suggested  Sir  Norman. 

Again  the  apothecary  examined  the  body,  and  again  he 
sho^)k  his  head  dolefully. 

"  It's  no  use,  sir ;  but,  if  it  will  please  you,  I  can  try." 

The  right  arm  was  bared,  the  lancet  inserted  ;  one 
or  two  black  drops  sluggishly  followed,  and  nothing 
more. 

"  It's  all  a  waste  of  time,  you  see,"  remarked  the  apothe- 
cary, wiping  his  dreadful  little  weapon,  "he's  as  dead  as 
ever  I  saw  anybody  in  my  life !  How  did  he  come  to  his 
end,  sir — not  of  the  plague  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Sir  Norman,  gloomily.  "  I  wish 
you  would  tell  me  that." 

"  Can't  do  it,  sir ;  my  skill  doesn't  extend  that  far. 
*  There  is  no  plague-spot  or  visible  wound  or  bruise  on  the 
person ;  so  he  must  have  died  of  some  internal  complaint 
— probably  disease  of  the  heart." 

**  Never  knew  him  to  have  such  a  thing,"  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, sighing.  « It  is  very  mysterious  and  very  dreadful, 
and  notwithstanding  all  you  have  said,  I  cannot  make  him 
dead.    Can  he  not  remain  here  until  morning,  at  least  ?  " 

The  starved  apothecary  looked  at  him  out  of  a  pair  of 
hollow,  melancholy  eyes. 

**  Gold  can  do  anything,"  was  his  plaintive  reply. 


~frr 


HUBERT'S  WHISPER. 


205 


«*I  understand.  You  shall  have  It.  Are  you  sure  you 
can  do  nothing  more  for  him  ?  " 

"Nothing  whatever,  sir;  and  excuse  n^'*  but  there  are 
customers  in  the  shop,  and  I  must  leave,  sir." 

Which  he  did,  accordingly ;  and  Sir  Norman  was  left 
alone  with  all  that  remained  of  him  who,  two  hours  be- 
fore, was  his  warm  friend.  He  could  scarcely  believe  that 
it  was  the  calm  majesty  of  death  that  so  changed  the  ex- 
pression of  that  white  face  ;  and  yet,  the  longer  he  looked, 
the  more  deeply  an  inward  conviction  assured  him  tliat 
it  was  so.  He  chafed  the  chilling  hands  and  face,  he  ap- 
plied hartshorn  and  burnt  foatliers  to  the  nostrils ;  but 
all  these  applications,  though  excellent  in  their  way,  could 
not  exactly  raise  the  dead  to  life,  and,  in  this  case,  proved 
a  signal  failure.  He  gave  up  his  doctoring,  nt  last,  in  de- 
spair, and  folding  his  arms,  looked  down  at  what  lay  on 
the  table,  and  tried  to  convince  himself  thiit  it  was  Or- 
miston.  So  absorbed  was  he  in  the  endeavor,  that  he 
heeded  not  the  passing  moments,  until  it  struck  him  with 
a  shock  that  Hubert  might  even  now  be  waiting  for  him 
at  the  trysting-place,  with  news  of  Leoline.  Love  is 
stronger  than  friendship,  stronger  than  grief,  stronger 
than  death,  stronger  than  every  other  feeling  in  the  world ; 
so  he  suddenly  seized  his  hat,  turned  his  back  on  Ormis- 
ton  and  the  apothecary's  shop,  and  strode  off  to  the  place 
he  had  quitted.  No  Hubert  was  there  ;  but  two  figures 
were  passing  slowly  along  in  the  moonlight,  and  one  of 
them  he  recognized,  with  an  impulse  to  spring  at  him 
like  a  tiger  and  strangle  him.  But  he  had  been  so  shocked 
and  subdued  by  his  recent  discovery,  that  the  impulse 
which,  half  an  hour  before,  would  have  been  unhesita- 
tingly obeyed,  went  for  nothing,  now ;  and  there  was 
more  of  reproach,  even,  than  anger  in  his  voice,  as  he 
went  over  and  laid  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  one  of 
them. 

"  Stay  I "  he  said.  "  One  word  with  you.  Count  L'Es- 
trange.    What  have  you  done  with  Leoline  :' " 

**  Ah  I  Sir  Norman,  as  I  live !  "  cried  the  count,  wheel- 
ing round  and  lifting  his  hat.  "Give  you  good-even — or 
rather,  good-morning,  Kingsley — for  St.  Paul's  has  long 
g^ne  the  midnight  hour.'' 


iP 


n 


206 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


i 


I 


i 

! 


Sir  Norman,  with  his  hand  still  on  his  shoulder,  re« 
turned  not  the  courtesy,  and  regarded  the  gallant  count 
with  a  stern  eye. 

*•  Where  is  Leoline  ?  "  he  frigidly  repeated. 

"Really,"  said  the  count,  vAth  some  embarrassment, 
**  you  attack  me  so  unexpectedly,  and  so  like  a  ghost  or  a 
highwayman — by  the  way,  I  have  a  word  to  say  to  you 
about  highwaymen,  and  was  seeking  you  to  say  it." 

"  Where  is  Leoline  ?  "  shouted  the  exasperated  young 
knight,  releasing  his  shoulder,  and  clutching  him  by  the 
throat.  Tell  me,  or  by  Heaven !  I'll  pitch  you  neck  and 
heels  into  the  Thames  !  " 

Instantly  the  sword  of  the  count's  companion  flashed 
in  the  moonlight,  and  in  two  seconds  more,  its  blue  blade 
would  have  ended  the  mortal  career  of  Sir  Norman  Kings- 
ley,  had  not  the  count  quickly  sprung  back,  and  made  a 
motion  for  his  friend  to  hold. 

"Wait!"  he  cried,  commandingly,  with  an  arm  out- 
stretched to  each.  "Keep  off!  George,  sheathe  your 
sword  and  stand  aside.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  one  word 
with  you,  and  be  it  in  peace." 

"  There  can  be  no  peace  between  us,"  retorted  that  ag- 
gravated young  gentleman  fiercely,  "until  you  tell  me 
what  has  become  of  Leoline." 

"  All  in  good  time.  We  have  a  listener ;  and  does  it 
not  strike  you  our  conference  should  be  private?" 

"  Public  or  private,  it  matters  not  a  jot,  so  that  you  tell 
me  what  youVe  done  with  Leoline,"  replied  Sir  Norman, 
with  whom,  it  was  evident,  getting  beyond  his  question 
was  a  moral  and  pliysical  impossibility.  "  And  if  you  do 
not  give  an  account  of  yourself,  I'll  run  you  through,  as 
sure  as  your  name  is  Count  I'Estrange ! " 

A  strange  sort  of  smile  came  over  the  face  of  the  count, 
at  this  direful  threat,  as  if  he  fancied,  in  that  case,  he  was 
safe  enough ;  but  Sir  Norman,  luckily,  did  not  see  it,  and 
heard  only  the  suave  reply  : 

"Certainly,  Sir  Norman ;  I  shall  be  delighted  to  do  so. 
Let  us  stand  over  there  in  the  shadow  of  thiit  arch;  and, 
George,  do  you  remain  here  within  call." 

The  count  blandly  waved  Sir  Norman  to  follow,  which 
Sir  J^'oriJian  did,  with  much  the  ^ir  of  a  sulky  lion ;  and 


HUBERT'S  WHISPER. 


207 


a  moment  after,  both  stood  facing  each  other  within  the 
archway. 

"  Well ! "  cried  the  young  knight,  impatiently ;  **  I  am 
waiting.    Go  on  1  *' 

**  My  dear  Kingsley,"  responded  the  count,  in  his  easy 
way,  "  I  think  you  are  lalx>ring  under  a  little  mistake. 
I  have  nothing  to  go  on  about ;  it  is  you  who  are  to  begin 
the  controversy." 

"  Do  you  dare  to  play  with  me  ?  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman, 
furiously.  "I  tell  you  to  take  care  how  you  speak. 
What  have  you  done  with  Leoline?  " 

"  That  is  the  fourth  or  fifth  time  you  have  asked  me  that 
question,"  said  the  count,  with  provoking  indifference. 
"What  do  you  imagine  I  have  done  with  her? " 

Sir  Norman's  feelings,  which  had  been  rising  ever  since 
their  meeting,  got  up  to  such  a  height  at  this  aggravating 
question,  that  he  gave  vent  to  an  oath,  and  laid  his  hand 
on  his  sword ;  but  the  count  lightly  interposed  before  it 
came  out. 

"Not  yet,  Sir  Norman.  Be  calm;  talk  rationally. 
What  do  you  accuse  me  of  doing  with  Leoline  ?  " 

**  Do  you  dare  deny  having  carried  her  off?  " 

**  Deny  it  ?  No ;  I  am  never  afraid  to  father  my  own 
deeds." 

**  Ah  I "  said  Sir  Norman,  grinding  his  teeth. 

"Then you  acknowledge  it?" 

*»  I  acknowledge  it — yes.    What  next  ?  " 

The  perfect  composure  of  his  tone  fell  like  a  cool,  damp 
towel  on  the  fire  of  Sir  Norman's  wrath.  It  did  not  quite 
extinguish  the  flame,  however — only  quenched  it  a  little — 
and  it  still  hissed  hotly  underneath. 

"  And  you  dare  to  stand  before  me  and  acknowledge 
such  an  act?"  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  perfectly  astounded 
at  the  cool  assurance  of  the  man. 

"Verily  yea,"  said  the  count,  laughing.  "I  seldom 
take  the  trouble  to  deny  my  acts.     What  next  ?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  next,"  said  Sir  Norman,  severely, 
«« until  we  come  to  a  proper  understanding  about  this. 
Are  you  aware,  sir,  that  that  lady  is  my  promised  bride  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not  know  Ihat  I  am.  On  the  coatrary,  I 
lutve  an  idea  she  is  mine." 


ii 


208 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  She  was,  you  mean.  You  know  she  was  forced  into 
consenting  by  yourself  and  her  nurse  I  " 

"  Still  she  consented ;  and  a  bond  is  a  bond,  and  a 
promise,  a  promise  all  the  world  over." 

"Not  with  a  woman."  said  Sir  Norman,  with  stern  dog- 
matism. "It  is  their  privilege  to  break  their  promise  and 
changi;  their  mind  sixty  times  a  day  if  they  choose. 
Leoline  li:is  seen  fit  to  do  both,  and  has  accepted  me  in 
your  stt^-ad ;  therefore  I  command  you  instantly  to  give 
her  up ! " 

"Softly,  my  friend — softly.  How  was  I  to  know  all 
this  ?  " 

"  You  ought  to  have  known  it  I  "  returned  Sir  Norman, 
in  the  same  dogmatical  way ;  "  or  if  you  didn*t,  you  do 
now ;  so  say  no  more  about  it.  Where  is  she,  I  tell  you  ?  " 
repeated  the  young  man,  in  a  frenzy. 

"  Your  patience  one  moment  longer,  until  we  see  which 
of  us  has  the  best  right  to  the  lady.     I  have  a  prior  claim." 

"  A  forced  one.  Leoline  does  not  care  a  snap  for  you 
. — and  she  loves  me." 

"  What  extraordinary  bad  taste  I "  said  the  count, 
thoughtfully.    "  Did  she  tell  you  this  ?  " 

"Yes;  she  did  tell  me  this,  and  a  great  deal  more. 
Come — have  done  talking,  and  tell  me  where  she  is,  or 
I'll—" 

"  Oh,  no,  you  wouldn't ! "  said  the  count,  soothingly. 
«  Since  matters  stand  in  this  light,  I  will  tell  you  what 
I'll  do.  I  acknowledge  having  carried  off  Leoline,  view- 
ing her  as  my  promised  bride,  and  have  sent  her  to  my 
own  house,  in  the  care  of  a  trusty  messenger,  where,  I 
give  you  my  word  of  honor,  I  have  not  been  since.  Slie 
is  as  safe  there,  and  much  safer  than  in  her  own  house, 
until  morning,  and  it  would  be  a  pity  to  disturb  her  at 
this  unseasonable  hour.  When  the  morning  comes,  we 
will  both  go  to  her  together — state  our  rival  claims — and 
whichever  one  she  decides  on  accepting,  can  have  her, 
and  end  the  matter  at  once." 

The  count  paused,  and  so  did  his  hearer,  and  meditated. 
This  proposal  was  all  very  fair  and  nice  on  the  surfpce, 
but  Sir  Norman,  with  his  usual  penetration  and  acuteness, 
looked  further  than  the  surface  and  found  a  flaw. 


HUBERT'S  WHISPER. 


209 


a 


fly. 

hat 

Nl 

Jhe 

at 
iwe 

Ind 
ler, 


•<  And  how  am  I  to  know,"  he  asked  dubiously,  "  that 

fou  will  not  go  to  her  to-night,  and  spirit  her  off  where 
will  never  hear  or  see  either  of  you  again  ?  " 

"  In  the  very  best  way  in  the  world  :  we  will  not  part 
company  until  morning  comes  t  now,  are  we  at  peace  ?  '* 
inquired  the  count,  ainiiing,  and  holding  out  his  hand. 

"  Until  tli*»ri,  we  will  have  to  be,  I  suppose,"  replied 
Sir  Norman,  rather  ungraciously,  touching  the  hand  as  if 
it  were  red-hot,  and  dropping  it  again.  "  And  are  we  to 
stand  here  and  look  at  each  other,  in  tlie  meantime?" 

"  By  no  means !  Even  the  most  sublime  prospect  tires 
when  surveyed  too  long.  There  is  a  little  excursion 
which  I  would  like  you  to  accompany  me  on,  if  you  have 
no  objection. 

"Whereto?" 

"  To  the  ruin,  where  you  have  already  been  twice  to- 
night." 

Sir  Norman  stared. 

"And  who  told  you  this,  Sir  Count?" 

*'  Never  mind ;  I  have  heard  it.  Would  you  object  to 
a  third  excursion  there  before  morning  ?  " 

Again  Sir  Norman  paused  and  meditated.  There  was 
no  use  staying  where  he  was,  as  it  would  bring  him  no 
nearer  to  Leoline  ;  and  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  kill- 
ing the  count,  beyond  the  mere  transitory  pleasure  of  the 
thing.  On  the  other  hand  he  had  an  intense  and  ardent 
desire  to  re- visit  the  ruin,  and  see  what  had  become  of 
Miranda — the  only  drawback  being  that,  if  they  were 
found  they  would  both  be  most  assuredly  beheaded. 
Then,  again,  there  was  Hubert. 

"  Well  ?  "  inquired  the  count,  as  Sir  Norman  looked  up. 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  go  with  you  to  the  ruin,"  was 
the  reply,  "  only  this :  if  we  are  seen  there,  we  will  be 
dead  men  two  minutes  after ;  and  I  have  no  desire  to  de- 
part this  life  until  I  have  had  that  promised  interview 
with  Leoline." 

"  I  have  thought  of  that,"  said  the  count,  **  and  have 
provided  for  it.  We  may  venture  in  the  lion's  den  with- 
out the  slightest  danger ;  all  that  is  required  being  your 
promise  to  guide  us  thither.    Do  you  give  it  ?  " 


|l 


dio 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


**  I  do ;  but  I  expect  a  friend  here  shortly,  and  cannot 
start  until  he  comes." 

**  If  you  mean  me  by  that,  I  am  here,"  said  a  voice  at  his 
elbow ;  and,  looking  round,  he  saw  Hubert  himself,  stand- 
ing there,  a  quiet  listener  and  spectator  of  the  scene. 

Count  L'Eatrange  looked  at  him  with  interest,  and  Hu- 
bert, affecting  not  to  notice  the  survey,  watched  Sir 
Norman. 

**  Well,"  was  that  individuars  eager  address,  "  were  you 
successful  ?  " 

The  count  was  still  watching  the  boy  so  intently  that 
that  moat  discreet  youth  was  suddenly  seized  with  a 
violent  fit  of  coughing,  which  precluded  all  possibility  of 
reply  for  at  least  five  minutes ;  and  Sir  Norman,  at  the 
same  moment,  felt  his  arm  receive  a  sharp  and  warning 
pinch. 

**  Is  this  your  friend  ?  "  asked  the  count.  "  He  is  a  very 
small  one,  and  seems  in  a  bad  state  of  health." 

Sir  Norman,  still  under  the  influence  of  the  pinch,  re- 
plied by  an  inaudible  murmur,  and  looked,  with  a  deeply 
mystified  expression,  at  Hubert. 

«  He  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  lady  we  were 
talking  of  a  moment  ago,"  continued  the  count — "  is  suf- 
ficiently like  her,  in  fact,  to  be  her  brother ;  and,  I  see, 
wears  the  livery  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester." 

"  God  spare  you  your  eyesight  I  "  said  Sir  Norman,  im- 
patiently. "  Can  you  not  see,  among  the  rest,  that  I  have 
a  few  words  to  say  to  him  in  private  ?  Permit  us  to  leave 
you  for  a  moment." 

"There  is  no  need  to  do  so.  I  will  leave  you,  as  I  have 
a  few  words  to  say  to  the  person  who  is  with  me." 

So  saying,  the  count  walked  away,  and  Hubert  followed 
him  with  a  most  curious  look. 

"Now,"  cried  Sir  Norman,  eagerly,  «  what  news  ? " 

"  Good ! "  said  the  boy.    "  Leoline  is  safe  1 " 

"And  where?" 

" Not  far  from  here.    Didn't  he  tell  you?" 

"  The  count  ?    No — yes  ;  he  said  she  was  at  his  house." 

"Exactly.  That  is  where  she  is," replied  Hubert,  look- 
ing much  relieved.  "And,  for  the  present,  perfectly 
sale."  a 


HUBERT'S  WHISPER 


fill 


n 


«  And  did  you  see  her  ?  " 

**  Of  course  ;  and  heard  her,  too.  She  was  dreadfully 
anxious  to  come  with  me  ;  but  that  was  out  of  the  ques- 
tion." 

**  And  how  is  she  to  be  got  away  ?  " 

**  That  I  do  not  clearly  see.  We  will  have  to  bring  a 
ladder,  and  there  will  be  so  much  danger,  and  so  little 
cliance  of  success,  that,  in  fact,  it  seems  an  alniost  hope- 
less task.     Where  did  you  meet  Count  L'Eatrange  ?  " 

"Hero;  and  he  told  me  that  he  had  abducted  her  and 
held  her  a  prisoner  in  his  own  house." 

*♦  He  owned  that,  did  he  ?  I  wonder  you  Avere  not  fit 
to  kill  him?" 

**  So  I  was  at  first ;  but  he  talked  the  matter  over 
somehow." 

And  hereupon  Sir  Norman  briefly  and  pithily  rehearsed 
the  substance  of  their  conversation.  Hubert  listened  to 
it  attentively,  and  laughed  as  he  concluded. 

"  Well,  I  do  not  see  that  you  can  do  better.  Sir  Nor- 
man ;  and  I  think  it  would  be  wisest  to  obey  the  count 
for  to-night,  at  least.  To-morrow — if  things  do  not  go 
on  well,  we  can  take  the  law  in  our  own  hands." 

"  Can  we  V "  said  Sir  Norman,  doubtfully.  **  I  wish 
you  would  tell  me  who  this  infernal  count  is,  Hubert,  for 
I  am  certain  you  know." 

"  Not  until  to-morrow — you  shall  know  more  then." 

"  To-morrow !  to-morrow  !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman, 
disconsolately.  "  Everything  is  postponed  until  to- 
morrow! Oh,  here  comes  the  count  back  again.  Are 
we  going  to  start  now,  I  wonder  ?  " 

"  Is  your  friend  to  accompany  us  on  our  expedition  ?  " 
inquired  the  count,  standing  before  them.  "  It  shall  be 
quite  as  you  say,  Kingsley." 

"  My  friend  can  do  as  he  pleases.  What  do  you  say, 
Hubert." 

"  I  should  like  to  go,  of  all  things,  if  neither  of  you 
have  any  objections." 

"  Come  on,  then,"  said  the  count ;  "  we  will  find  horses 
in  readiness  a  short  distance  from  this." 

The  three  started  together,  and  walked  on  in  pilence 
through  several  streets,  until  they  reached  a  retired  inn, 


m 


ill 


212 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


where  the  count's  recent  companion  stood,  with  the 
horses.  Count  L'Estrange  whispered  a  few  words  to 
him,  upon  which  he  bowed  and  retired  ;  and  in  an  instant 
they  were  all  in  the  saddle,  and  galloping  away. 

The  journey  was  rather  a  silent  one,  and  what  conver- 
sation there  was,  was  principally  sustained  by  the  count. 
Hubert's  usual  flow  of  pert  chit-chat  seemed  to  have  for- 
saken him,  and  Sir  Norman  had  so  many  other  things  to 
think  of — Leoline,  Ormiston,  Miranda,  and  the  mysUjrious 
count  himself — that  he  felt  in  no  mood  for  talking.  Soon 
they  left  the  city  behind  them  ;  the  succeeding  two  miles 
were  quickly  passed  over,  and  the  "  Golden  Crown,"  all 
dark  and  forsaken,  now  hove  in  sight.  As  they  reached 
this,  and  cantered  up  the  road  leading  to  the  ruin  Sir 
Norman  drew  rein,  and  said : 

"  I  think  our  best  plan  would  be  to  dismount  and  lead 
our  horses  the  rest  of  the  way,  and  not  incur  any  un- 
necessary danger  by  making  a  noise.  We  can  fasten 
them  to  these  trees,  whbie  they  will  be  at  hand  when  we 
come  out." 

"  Wait  one  moment,"  said  the  count,  lifting  his  finger 
with  a  listening  look.     "  Listen  to  that ! " 

It  was  a  regular  tramp  of  horses'  hoofs,  sounding  in 
the  silence  like  a  cha)ge  of  cavalry.  While  they  looked, 
a  troop  of  horsemen  came  galloping  up,  and  came  to  a 
halt  when  they  saw  the  count. 

No  words  can  depict  the  look  of  amazement  Sir  Nor- 
man's face  wore  ;  but  Hubert  betrayed  not  the  least  sur- 
prise. The  count  glanced  at  his  companions  with  a  signifi- 
cant smile,  and  riding  back,  held  a  brief  colloquy  with 
lilm  who  seemed  the  leader  of  the  horsemen.  He  rode 
up  to  tliem  smiling  still,  and  saying,  as  he  passed  : 

"  Now,  then,  Kingsley,  lead  on,  and  we  will  follow ! " 

"  I  go  not  one  step  further,"  said  Sir  Norman,  firmly, 
"  until  I  know  who  I  am  leading  I  Who  are  you,  Count 
L-Estrange  ?  " 

The  count  looked  at  him,  but  did  not  answer.  A  warn- 
ing hand — that  of  Hubert — grasped  his  arm  ;  and  Hu- 
bert's voice  whispered  hurriedly  in  his  ear  : 

«  Hush,  for  God's  sake  I    It  is  the  king  I " 


r»  ' 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


213 


CHAPTER  XX. 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


The  effect  of  the  whisper  was  magical.  Everything 
that  had  been  dark  before  became  clear  as  noonday  ;  and 
Sir  Norman  sat  absolutely  astounded  at  his  own  stupidity 
in  not  having  fomid  it  out  for  himself  before.  Every 
feature,  notwithstanding  the  disguise  of  wig  and  beard, 
became  perfectly  familiar ;  and  even  through  the  well- 
assumed  voice,  he  recognized  the  royal  tones.  It  struck 
him  all  at  once,  and  with  it  the  fact  of  Leoline's  increased 
danger.  Count  L'Estrange  was  a  formidable  rival,  but 
King  Charles  of  England  was  even  more  forniidal)le 
Thought  is  quick — quicker  than  the  electric  telegnvph 
or  balloon  traveling  ;  and  in  two  seconds  the  whole  state 
of  things  with  all  the  attendant  surprises  and  dangers 
danced  before  his  mind's  eye  like  a  panorama ;  and  he 
comprehended  the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  before 
Hubert  had  sibilated  the  last  word  of  his  whisper.  He 
turned  his  eyes,  with  a  very  new  and  singular  sensation, 
upon  the  quondam  count,  and  found  that  gentleman  look- 
ing very  hard  at  him,  with  a  preternaturally  grave  ex- 
pression of  countenance.  Sir  Norman  knew  as  well  as 
anybody  the  varying  moods  of  his  royal  countship  and 
notwithstanding  his  general  good  nature,  it  was  not  safe 
to  trifle  with  him  at  all  times  ;  so  he  repressed  every  out- 
ward sign  of  emotion  whatever,  and  resolved  to  treat 
him  as  Count  L'Estrange  until  he  should  choose  to  sail 
under  his  own  proper  colors. 

"  Well,"  said  the  count,  with  unruffled  calmness,  "  and 
so  you  decline  to  go  any  further.  Sir  Norman  ?  " 

Hubert's  eye  was  fixed  with  a  Avarning  gleam  upon 
him,  and  Sir  Norman  composedly  answered : 


i 


V, 


^ 


''  I 


t ; 


^14 


THE  MIBNIOHT  QUEEN. 


"  No,  count ;  I  do  not  absolutely  decline — but  before  I 
do  go  any  further,  I  should  like  to  know  by  what  right 
do  you  bring  all  these  men  here,  and  what  are  your  in- 
tentions in  so  doing  ?  " 

«  And  if  I  refuse  to  answer  ?  " 

»*Tnen  I  refuse  to  move  a  step  further  in  the  busi- 
ness ! "  said  Sir  Norman ,  with  decision. 

"  And  why,  my  good  friend  ?  You  surely  can  have  no 
objection  to  anytning  that  can  be  done  against  highway- 
men and  cut- throats  ?  " 

"  Right !    I  have  no  objection,  but  others  may." 

**  Whom  do  you  mean  by  others? " 

"The  king,  for  instance.  His  gracious  majesty  is 
whimsical  at  times  ;  and  who  knows  but  he  may  take  it 
into  his  royal  head  to  involve  us  somehow  with  them  ? 
I  know  the  adage,  *  put  not  your  trust  in  princes.' " 

**  Very  good,"  said  the  count,  with  a  slight  and  irre- 
pressible smile ;  "  your  prudence  is  beyond  all  praise  1 
But  I  think,  in  this  matter,  I  may  safely  promise  to  stand 
between  you  and  the  king's  wrath.  Look  at  these  horse- 
men behind  you,  and  see  if  they  do  not  wear  the  uniform 
of  his  majesty's  own  body-guard." 

Sir  Norman  looked,  and  saw  the  dazzle  of  their  splendid 
equipments  glancing  and  glittering  in  the  moonbeams. 

« I  see.  Then  you  have  the  royal  permission  for  all 
this  ?  " 

"You  have  said  it.  Now,  most  scrupulous  of  men, 
proceed ! " 

"Look  there!"  exclaimed  Hubert,  suddenly,  pointing 
to  a  corner  of  the  ruin.  "Some  one  has  seen  us,  and  is 
going  now  to  give  the  alarm." 

"  He  shall  miss  it,  though  1 "  said  Sir  Norman,  detect- 
ing, at  the  same  instant,  a  dark  figure  flitting  through  the 
broken  doorway ;  and  striking  spurs  into  his  horse,  he  was 
instantaneously  beside  it,  out  of  the  saddle,  and  had 
grasped  the  retreater  by  the  shoulder. 

"  By  your  leave ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman.  "  Not  quite 
so  fast  I  Stand  out  here  in  the  moonlight,  until  I  see  who 
you  are." 

"  Let  me  go  I  "  cried  the  man,  grappling  with  his  op- 
ponent   *'  I  know  who  you  are,  and  I  swear  you'll  never 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


215 


see  moonlight  or  sunlight  again,  if  you  do  not  instantly 
let  me  go." 

Sir  Norman  recognized  the  voice  with  a  perfect  shout 
of  delight : 

«  The  duke,  by  all  that's  lucky !  Oh,  I'll  let  you  go- 
but  not  until  the  hangman  gets  hold  of  you.  Villain 
and  robber,  you  shall  pay  for  misdeeds  now ! " 

"  Hold !  "  shouted  the  commanding  voice  of  Count 
L'Estrange.  "  Cease,  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  !  there  is  no 
time,  and  this  is  no  person  for  you  to  scoff  with,  lie  is 
our  prisoner,  and  shall  show  us  the  nearest  way  into  this 
den  of  thieves.  Give  me  your  sword,  fellow,  and  be  thank- 
ful I  do  not  make  you  shorter  by  the  head  with  it." 

"  You  do  not  know  him ! "  cried  Sir  Norman,  in  vivid 
excitement.  "  I  tell  you  this  is  the  identical  scoundrel 
who  attempted  to  rob  and  murder  you  a  few  hours  ago." 

"  So  much  the  better !  He  shall  pay  for  that  and  all 
his  other  shortcomings,  before  long !  But,  in  the  mean- 
time, I  order  him  to  bring  us  before  the  rest  of  this  out- 
lawed crew." 

"  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  said  the  duke,  sullenly. 

"  Just  as  you  please.  Here,  my  men,  two  of  you  take 
hold  of  this  scoundrel,  and  despatch  him  at  once." 

The  guard  had  all  dismounted ;  and  two  of  them  came 
forward  with  edifying  obedience,  to  do  as  they  were  told. 

The  effect  upon  the  duke  was  miraculous.  Instantly 
he  started  up,  with  an  energy  perfectly  amazing : 

"  No,  no,  no !  I'll  do  it !  Come  this  way,  gentlemen, 
and  I'll  bring  you  direct  into  their  midst.  Oh,  good 
Lord !  whatever  will  become  of  us  ?  " 

This  last  frantic  question  was  addressed  to  society  in 
general,  but  Sir  Norman  felt  called  upon  to  answer : 

"  That's  very  easily  told,  my  man.  If  you  and  the  rest 
of  your  titled  associates  receive  your  deserts  (as  there  is 
no  doubt  you  will)  from  the  gracious  hand  of  our  sov- 
ereign lord  the  king,  the  strongest  rope  and  highest  gal- 
lows at  Tyburn  will  be  your  elevated  destiny." 

The  duke  groaned  dismally,  and  would  have  come  to  a 
halt  to  beg  mercy  on  the  spot,  had  not  Hubert  given  him 
a  probe  in  the  ribs  with  the  point  of  his  dagger,  that  sent 
hiw  pn  a^^i^T  ^vith  i^  d'strfvctecl  howl, 


216 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


ii 


i 


**  Why,  this  is  a  perfect  Hades ! "  said  the  count,  as  he 
strmbled  after,  in  the  darkness.  "  Are  you  sure  we  are 
going  right,  Kingsley  ?  " 

The  inquiry  was  not  imnatural,  for  tlie  blackness  was 
perfectly  Tartarian,  and  the  soldiers  behind  were  knock- 
ing their  tall  shins  against  all  kinds  of  obstacles  as  they 
groped  blindly  along,  invoking  from  them  countless  curses 
not  loud,  but  deep. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  we  are  or  not,"  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, significantly,  only  God  help  him  if  we're  not !  Where 
are  you  taking  us  to,  you  black-looking  bandit  ?  " 

"  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor,  gentlemen,"  said  an  im- 
ploring voice  in  the  darkness,  "  that  I'm  leading  you,  by 
the  nearest  way,  to  the  Midnight  Court.  All  I  ask  of 
you  in  return  is,  that  you  will  let  me  enter  before  you ; 
for  if  they  find  that  I  lead  you  in,  my  life  will  not  be 
worth  a  moment's  purchase." 

"  As  if  it  ever  was  worth  it,"  said  Sir  Norman,  contemp- 
tuously. "  On  with  you,  and  be  thankful  I  don't  save  your 
companions  the  trouble,  by  making  an  end  of  you  where 
you  stand." 

"Rush  along,  old  fellow,'*  suggested  Hubert,  giving 
him  another  poke  with  his  dagger,  that  drew  forth  a 
second  doleful  howl. 

Notwithstanding  the  darkness.  Sir  Norman  discovered 
that  they  were  being  led  in  a  direction  exactly  opposite 
that  by  which  he  had  previously  effected  an  entrance. 
They  were  in  the  vault,  he  knew,  by  the  darkness,  though 
they  haJ  descended  no  staircase,  and  he  was  just  wonder- 
ing if  their  guide  was  not  meditating  some  treachery  by 
such  a  circuitous  route,  when  suddenly  a  tumult  of  voices, 
and  uproar,  and  confusion,  met  his  ear.  At  the  same  in- 
stant, their  guide  opened  a  door,  revealing  a  dark  passage, 
illuminated  by  a  few  rays  of  light,  and  which  Sir  Nor- 
man instantly  recognized  as  that  leading  to  the  Black 
Chamber.  Here  again  the  duke  paused,  and  turned  round 
to  them  with  a  wildly-imploring  face. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  do  conjure  you  to  let  me  enter  before 
you  do  I  I  tell  you  they  will  murder  me  the  very  instant 
they  discover  I  have  led  you  here ! " 

♦*Th£^t  would  be  a  ^reat  pity  J "  said  the  count ;  "and 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


217 


the  gallows  will  be  cheated  of  one  of  its  brif^^htest  orna- 
ments! That  is  your  den  of  thieves,  I  siipi)ose,  from 
A^'^hich  all  this  uproar  comes  ?  " 

"  It  is.  And  as  I  have  guided  you  safely  to  it,  surely  I 
deserve  this  trifling  boon. 

"  Trifling  do  you  call  it,"  interposed  Sir  Norman,  "  to 
let  you  make  your  escape,  as  you  mort  assuredly  will  do 
the  moment  you  are  out  of  our  sight  ?  No,  no ;  we  are 
too  old  birds  to  be  caught  with  such  chalf  ;  and  though 
the  informer  always  g(!ts  off  scot-free,  your  services  de- 
serve no  such  boon ;  for  we  could  have  found  our  way 
without  your  help !  On  with  you.  Sir  Robber ;  and  if 
your  companions  do  kill  you,  console  yourself  with  the 
thought  that  they  have  only  anticipated  the  executioner 
by  a  few  days !  " 

With  a  perfectly  heartrending  groan,  the  unfortu- 
nate duke  walked  on ;  but  when  they  reached  the  arch- 
way directly  before  the  room,  he  came  to  an  obstinate 
halt,  and  positively  refused  to  go  a  step  furtlier.  It  was 
death,  anyway,  and  he  resisted  with  the  courage  of  des- 
peration, feeling  he  might  as  well  die  there  as  go  in  and 
be  assassinated  by  his  confederates,  and  not  even  the  per- 
suasive influence  of  Hubert's  dagger  could  prevail  on  him 
to  budge  an  inch  further. 

"  Stay,  then !  "  said  the  count  with  perfect  indifference. 
"  And,  soldiers,  see  that  he  does  not  escape  !  Now,  Kings- 
ley,  let  us  just  have  a  glimpse  of  what  is  going  on  within." 

Though  the  party  had  made  considerable  noise  in  ad- 
vancing, and  had  spoken  quite  loudly  in  their  little  ani- 
imated  discussion  with  the  duke,  so  great  was  the  turmol 
and  confusion  within,  that  it  was  not  heeded  or  even 
heard.  With  very  different  feelings  from  those  with  Avhich 
he  had  stood  there  last,  Sir  Norman  stepped  for^vjird  and 
stood  before  the  count,  looking  at  the  scene  will  in. 

The  crimson  court  was  in  a  state  of  "  most  admired  dis- 
order," and  the  confusion  of  tongues  was  equal  to  Bal)el. 
No  longer  were  tl  ey  languidly  promenading,  or  lolling  in 
cushioned  chairs  ;  but  all  seemed  running  to  find  fro  in 
the  wildest  excitement,  which  tbp  jrrandest  (^.vVo  among 
them  seemed  to  share  equally  with  the  terriiit  <1  white 
sylphs.     iLlverybwd^;  appciuvd  to  be  t-ulkin^  lo;jTUior^  and 


I 


218 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


n 


paying  no  attention  whatever  to  the  sentiments  of  their 
neighbors.  One  universal  center  of  union  alone  seemed 
to  exist,  and  that  was  the  green,  judicial  ttible  near  the 
throne,  upon  which  while  all  tongues  ran,  all  eyes  turned. 
For  some  minutes,  neither  of  the  beholders  could  make  out 
why,  owing  to  the  crowd  (principally  of  the  ladies)  press- 
ing around  it;  but  Sir  Norman  guessed,  and  thrilled 
through  with  a  vague  sensation  of  terror,  lest  it  should 
prove  the  dead  body  of  Miranda.  Skipping  in  and  out 
among  the  females  he  saw  the  dwarf  performing  a  sort  of 
war-dance  of  rage  and  frenzy ;  twining  botli  hands  in  his 
wig,  as  if  he  would  have  torn  it  out  by  the  roots,  and  anon 
tearing  at  somebody  else's  wig,  so  that  everybody  backed 
off  when  he  came  near  theiu. 

**  Who  is  that  little  fiend  ?  "  inquired  the  count ;  **  and 
what  have  they  got  there  at  the  end  of  the  room, 
pray  ?  " 

"  That  little  fiend  is  the  ringleader  here,  and  is  entitled 
Prince  Caliban.  Regarding  your  other  question,"  said  Sir 
Norman,  with  a  faint  thrill, "  there  was  a  table  there  when 
I  saw  it  last,  but  I  am  afraid  there  is  something  worse 
now." 

"  Could  ever  mortal  conceive  of  such  a  scene,"  observed 
the  count  to  himself ;  "  look  at  that  little  picture  of  ugli- 
ness ;  how  he  hops  about  like  a  dropsical  bull- frog.  Some 
of  those  women  are  very  pretty,  too,  and  outshine  more 
than  one  court-beauty  that  I  have  seen.  Upon  my  word, 
it  is  the  most  extraordinary  spectacle  I've  ever  heard  of. 
I  wonder  what  they've  got  that's  so  attractive  down 
there?" 

At  the  same  moment,  a  loud  voice  withhi  the  circle 
abruptly  exclaimed : 

**  She  revives,  she  revives  I  Back,  back,  and  give  her 
air!" 

Instantly,  the  throng  swayed  and  fell  back ;  and  the 
dwarf,  with  a  sort  of  yell  (whether  of  rage  or  relief,  no- 
body knew),  swept  them  from  side  to  side  with  a  wave  of 
his  long  arms,  and  cleared  a  wide  vacancy  for  his  own 
special  benefit.  The  action  gave  the  count  an  oppor- 
tunity of  gratifying  his  rnriosUy.  The  object  of  attrac- 
tlQW  wa9  now  plainly  visible.     iSir  Xcumau's  suymis^^  b^ad 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


219 


been  correct.  Tlie  green  table  of  the  parliament-house 
of  the  midnight  court  had  been  converted,  by  the  aid  of 
cushions  and  pillows,  into  an  extempore  couch ;  and  half- 
buried  in  their  downy  depths  lay  Mirandii,  the  queen, 
The  sweeping  robes  of  royal  purple,  trimmed  with  ermine, 
the  circlets  of  jewels  on  arms,  bosom  and  head,  she  still 
wore,  and  the  beautiful  face  was  whiter  than  falling  snow. 
Yet  she  was  not  dead,  as  Sir  Norman  had  dreaded ;  for 
the  dark  eyes  were  open,  and  were  fixed  with  an  unutter- 
able depth  of  melancholy  on  vacancy.  Her  arms  lay  help- 
lessly by  her  side,  and  some  one,  the  court  physician 
probably,  was  bending  over  her  and  feeling  her  pulse. 
As  the  count's  eyes  fell  upon  her,  he  started  back,  and 
grasped  Sir  Norman's  arm  with  consternation. 

"  Good  heavens,  Kingsley  I "  he  cried ;  "  it  is  Leoline, 
herself  I  " 

In  his  excitement  he  had  spoken  so  loud,  that  in  the 
momentary  silence  that  followed  the  physician's  direction 
his  voice  had  rung  through  the  room,  and  drew  every  eye 
upon  them. 

"  We  are  seen,  we  are  seen ! "  shouted  Hubert,  and  as 
he  spoke,  a  terrible  cry  filled  the  room.  In  an  instant 
every  sword  leaped  from  its  scabbard,  and  the  shrieks  of 
the  startled  women  rung  appallingly  out  on  the  air.  Sir 
Norman  drew  his  sword,  too :  but  the  cpunt,  with  his 
eyes  yet  fixed  on  Miranda,  still  held  him  by  the  arm,  and 
excitedly  exclaimed : 

"  Tell  me,  tell  me,  is  it  Leoline  ?  "  v 

"  Leoline  1  No — how  could  it  be  Leoline  ?  They  look 
«Iike,  that's  all.  I)raw  your  sword,  count,  and  defend 
yourself ;  we  are  discovered,  and  they  are  upon  us  I " 

"  We  are  upon  them,  you  mean,  and  it  is  they  who  are 
discovered,"  said  the  count,  doing  as  directed,  and  stepping 
boldly  in.  « A  pretty  hornet's  nest  is  this  we  have  lit 
upon,  if  ever  there  was  one." 

Side  by  side  with  the  count,  with  a  dauntless  step  and 
eye.  Sir  Norman  entered,  too ;  and,  at  sight  of  him  a  burst 
of  surprise  and  fury  rung  from  lip  to  lip.  There  was  a 
yell  of  "  Betrayed,  betrayed !  "  and  the  dwarf,  with  a  face 
so  distorted  by  fiendish  fury  that  it  was  scarcely  human, 
made  a  frenzied  rush  at  him,  when  the  clear,  commianding 


220 


■  I 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


voice  of  the  count  rung  like  a  bugle-blast  through  the 
assembly : 

"  Sheathe  your  swords,  the  whole  of  you,  and  yield 
ycnirselves  prisoners.  In  the  king's  name  I  command  you 
to  surrender." 

"  There  is  no  other  king  here  but  1 1 "  screamed  the 

v[]i%  gnashing  his  teeth,  and  fairly  foaming  with  rage. 

i)ie,  traitor  and  spy!    You  have  escaped  me  once,  but 
>  v)ur  hour  is  come  now." 

"  Allow  me  to  differ  from  you,"  said  Sir  Norman,  po- 
litely, as  he  evaded  the  blindly-frantic  lunge  of  the  dwarf's 
sword,  and  inserted  an  inch  or  two  of  the  point  of  his 
own  in  that  enraged  little  prince's  anatomy.  "  So  far 
from  my  hour  having  come  —if  you  will  take  the  trouble 
to  reflect  upon  it — you  will  find  it  is  the  reverse,  and  that 
my  little  friend's  brief  and  brilliant  career  is  rapidly  draw- 
ing to  a  close." 

At  these  bland  remarks,  and  at  the  sharp  thrust  that 
accompanied  them,  the  dwarf's  previous  war-dance  of 
anxiety  was  nothing  to  the  hornpipe  of  exasperation  he 
went  through  when  Sir  Norman  ceased.  The  blood  was 
raining  from  his  side,  and  from  the  point  of  his  adversary's 
sword,  as  he  withdrew  it;  and,  maddened  like  a  wild 
beast  at  the  sight  of  his  own  blood,  he  screeched  and 
foamed,  and  kicked  about  own  stout  little  legs,  and 
gnashed  his  teeth,  and  made  grabs  at  his  wig,  and  lashed 
the  air  with  his  sword,  and  made  such  desperate  pokes 
with  it,  at  Sir  Norman  and  everybody  else  who  came  in 
his  way,  that,  for  the  public  good,  the  young  knight  ran 
him  through  the  sword-arm,  and,  in  spite  of  all  his  dis- 
tracted didoes,  captured  him  by  the  help  of  Hubert,  and 
passed  him  over  to  the  soldiers  to  cheer  and  keep  com- 
pany with  the  duke. 

This  brisk  little 
time  to  look  about  him.  It  had  all  passed  in  so  short  a 
space,  and  the  dwarf  had  been  so  desperately  frantic,  that 
the  rest  had  paused  involuntarily,  and  were  still  look- 
ing on.  Missing  the  count,  he  glanced  around  the  room, 
and  discovered  him  standing  on  Miranda's  throne,  looking 
over  the  company  with  the  cool  air  of  a  conqueror.  Mir- 
anda, aroused,  as  she  very  well  might  be  by  all  this 


affair  being  over.   Sir  Norman  had 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


221 


t^i 


screaming  and  fighting,  had  partly  raised  herself  upon 
her  elbow,  and  was  looking  wildly  about  her.  As  her 
eye  fell  on  Sir  Norman,  she  sat  fairly  erect,  with  a  cry  of 
exultation  and  joy : 

"  You  have  come,  you  have  come,  as  T  knew  you  would," 
she  excitedly  cried,  "and  the  hour  of  retribution  is  at 
liaiid!" 

At  the  words  of  one  who,  a  few  moments  before,  tl)oy 
ii.nl  supposed  to  be  dead,  an  awe-struck  silence  fell ;  and 
tlie  count,  taking  advantiige  of  it,  waved  his  hand,  and 
cried : 

"  Yield  yourselves  prisoners,  I  command  you !  The 
royal  guards  are  without;  and  the  first  of  you  who  offers 
the  slightest  resistance  will  die  like  a  dog !  Ho,  guards  I 
enter,  and  seize  your  prisoners ! " 

Quick  as  thought  the  room  was  full  of  soldiers ;  but  the 
rest  of  the  order  was  easier  said  than  obeyed.  The  robbers, 
knowing  their  doom  Avas  death,  fought  with  the  fury  of 
desperation,  and  a  short,  wild  and  terrible  conflict  ensued. 
Foremost  in  the  m^lee  was  Sir  Norman  and  the  count ; 
while  Hubert,  who  had  taken  possession  of  the  dwarfs 
sword,  fought  like  a  young  lion.  The  shrieks  of  the 
women  were  heartrending,  as  they  all  fled,  precipitately, 
into  the  blue  dining  room  ;  and,  crouching  in  the  corners, 
or  flying  distractecUy  about — true  to  their  sex — made  the 
air  resound  with  the  most  lamentable  cries.  Some  five 
or  six,  braver  than  the  rest,  alone  remained ;  and  more 
than  one  of  these  actually  mixed  in  the  affray,  with  a 
heroism  worthy  a  better  cause.  Miranda,  still  sitting 
erect,  and  supported  in  the  arms  of  a  kneeling  and  trem- 
bling sylph  in  white,  watched  the  conflict  with  terribly- 
exultant  eyes,  that  blazed  brighter  and  brighter  with  the 
lurid  fires  of  vengeful  joy  at  every  robber  tliat  fell. 

"  Oh,  that  I  were  strong  enough  to  wield  a  sword ! " 
was  her  fierce  aspiration  ev^ry  instant ;  "  if  I  could  only 
mix  in  that  battle  for  five  minutes,  I  could  die  with  a 
happy  heart ! " 

Had  she  been  able  to  wield  a  sword  for  five  minutes, 
according  to  her  wish,  she  would  probably  hnvc  wielded 
it  from  beginning  to  end  of  the  battle  ;  for  it  did  not  last 
much    longer    than    that.     The    robbers    bought    with 


J!   t- 


222 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


h 


I 


'• 


i: 


1 


fury  and  ferocity ;  but  they  had  been  taken  by  surprise^ 
and  were  overpowered  by  numbers,  and  obliged  to 
yield. 

The  crimson  court  was  indoed  crimson  now ;  for  the 
velvet  carpeting  was  dyed  a  more  terrible  red,  and  was 
slippery  with  a  rain  of  blood  I  A  score  of  dead  and  dying 
lay  groaning  on  the  ground;  and  the  rest,  beaten  anr! 
bloody,  gave  up  their  swords,  and  surrendered. 

"  You  should  have  done  this  at  first  I  "  said  the  count, 
coolly  wiping  his  blood-stained  weapon,  and  replacing  it 
in  its  sheath ;  "  and,  by  so  doing,  saved  some  time  and 
more  bloodshed.  Where  are  all  the  fair  ladies,  Kingsley, 
I  saw  here  when  we  entered  first  ?  " 

"  They  fled  like  a  flock  of  frightened  deer,"  said  Hubert, 
taking  it  upon  himself  to  answer,  "  through  yonder  arch- 
way when  the  fight  commenced.  I  will  go  in  search  of 
thom,  if  you  like." 

"  I  am  rather  at  a  loss  what  to  do  with  them,"  said  the 
count,  half-laughing.  "  It  would  be  a  pity  to  bring  such 
a  cavalcade  of  pretty  women  into  the  city  to  die  of  the 
plague.     Can  you  suggest  nothing.  Sir  Norman  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  but  to  leave  them  here  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves, or  let  them  go  free." 

"  They  would  be  a  great  addition  to  the  court  at  White- 
hall," suggested  Hubert,  in  his  prettiest  tone ;  "  and  a 
thousand  times  handsomer  than  half  the  damsels  there. 
There,  for  instance,  is  one  a  dozen  times  more  beautiful 
than  Mistress  Stuart  herself  !  " 

Leaning,  in  his  nonchalant  way,  on  the  hilt  of  his  sword, 
he  pointed  to  Miranda,  whose  fiercely- joyful  eyes  were 
fixed  with  a  glance  that  made  the  three  of  them  shudder, 
on  the  bloody  floor  and  the  heap  of  slain. 

"  Who  is  that  ?  "  asked  the  count,  curiously.  "  Why  is 
she  perched  up  there,  and  why  does  she  bear  such  an  ex- 
traordinary resemblance  to  Leoline  ?  Do  you  know  any- 
thing about  her,  Kingsley  ?  "  ' 

"  I  know  she  is  the  wife  of  that  unlovely  little  man, 
whose  howls  in  yonder  passage  you  can  hear,  if  you  listen, 
and  that  she  was  the  (jueen  of  this  midnight  court,  and 
is  wounded,  if  not  dying,  now !  " 

♦'  I  never  s-iw  such  fierce  eyes  before  in  a  female  head  t 


AT  THjdi  PLAGUE-PIT. 


228 


LV/i, 


41 


One  would  think  slie  fairly  exulted  in  this  wholesale 
slaughter  of  her  subjects." 

**  So  she  does ;  and  slie  hates  both  her  husband  and  her 
subjects,  with  an  intensity  you  cannot  conceive  of." 

"  How  very  like  royalty  I  "  observed  Hubert,  in  paren- 
thesis. "  H  she  were  a  real  queen,  she  could  not  act  more 
natui'ally." 

Sir  Norman  smiled,  and  the  count  glanced  at  the  auda- 
cious page  suspiciously  ;  but  Hubert's  face  was  touching 
to  witness,  in  its  innocent  unconsciousness.  Miranda, 
looking  up  at  the  same  time,  caught  the  young  knight's 
eye,  and  made  a  motion  for  him  to  approach.  She  held 
out  both  her  hands  to  him  as  he  came  near,  with  the  same 
look  of  dreadful  delight. 

"  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  I  am  dying,  and  my  last  words 
are  in  thanksgiving  to  you  for  having  thus  avenged  me  I  '* 

**  Let  us  hope  you  have  many  days  to  live  yet,  fair  lady," 
said  Sir  Norman,  with  the  same  feeling  of  repulsion  he 
had  experienced  in  the  dungeon.  "  I  am  sorry  you  have 
been  obliged  to  witness  this  terrible  scene." 

♦*  Sorry  I  "  she  cried,  fiercely.  "  Why,  since  the  first 
hour  I  remember  at  all,  I  remember  nothing  that  has 
given  me  such  joy  as  what  has  passed  now ;  my  only  re- 
gret is  that  I  did  not  see  them  all  die  before  my  eyes  1 
Sorry  I  I  tell  you  I  would  not  have  missed  it  for  ten 
thousand  worlds  1 " 

**  Madam,  you  must  not  talk  like  this  I  "  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, almost  sternly.  "  Heaven  forbid  there  should  exist 
a  woman  who  could  rejoice  in  bloodshed  and  death.  You 
do  not,  I  know.  You  wi'ong  yourself  and  your  own  na- 
ture in  saying  so.  Be  calm  now ;  do  not  excite  yourself. 
You  shall  come  with  us,  and  be  properly  cared  for ;  and  I 
feel  certain  you  have  a  long  and  happy  life  before  you  yet." 

"Who  are  those  men?"  she  said,  not  heeding  him, 
**  and  who — ah,  great  Heaven !     What  is  that  ?  " 

In  looking  round,  she  had  met  Hubert  face  to  face. 
She  knew  that  that  face  was  her  own ;  and,  with  a  horror 
stamped  on  every  feature  that  no  words  can  depict,  she 
fell  back,  with  a  terrible  scream,  and  was  dead  ! 

Sir  Norman  was  so  shocked  by  the  suddenness  of  the 
last  oatastrophe,  that,  for  some  tune,  he  could  not  realize 


:    k 


■ 


224 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


that  she  had  actually  expired,  until  lie  bent  over  her,  and 
placed  his  ear  to  her  lips.  No  breath  was  there ;  no  pulse 
stirred  in  that  tteree  heart — the  Midnight  Queen  was  ui- 
deed  dead ! 

"  Oh,  this  is  fearful ! "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  palo  and 
horrified. 

"  The  sij^ht  of  Hubert,  and  his  wonderful  resemblance 
to  her,  has  coinpletcMl  what  her  wound  and  this  excitement 
began.     Her  last  is  breathed  on  earth  I  " 

"  Peace  be  with  her  !  "  said  the  count,  removing  his  hat, 
which,  up  to  the  prcisent,  he  had  worn.  "  And  now.  Sir 
Norman,  if  we  are  to  keep  our  engagement  at  sunrise,  we 
had  better  be  on  the  move  ;  for,  unless  I  am  greatly  mis- 
taken, the  sky  is  already  gray  with  day-dawn." 

"  What  are  your  commands  ?  "  asked  Sir  Norman,  turn- 
ing away,  with  a  sigh,  from  the  beautiful  form  already 
stiffening  in  death. 

"  That  you  come  with  me  to  seek  out  those  frightened 
fair  ones,  who  are  a  great  deal  too  lovely  to  share  the  fate 
of  their  male  companions.  I  shall  give  them  their  liberty 
to  go  where  they  please,  on  condition  that  they  do  not 
enter  the  city.  We  have  enough  vile  of  their  class  there 
already." 

Sir  Norman  silently  followed  him  in^L»  the  azure  and 
silver  saloon,  where  the  crowd  of  duchesses  and  countesses 
were  "  weeping  and  wringing  theii  Viands,"  and  as  white 
as  so  many  pretty  ghosts.  In  a  somewhat  brief  and  forci- 
ble manner,  considering  his  characteristic  gallantry,  the 
count  made  his  proposal,  which,  with  feelings  of  pleasure 
and  relief,  was  at  once  acceded  to ;  and  the  two  gentlemen 
bowed  themselves  out,  and  left  the  startled  ladies. 

On  returning  to  the  crimson  court,  he  commanded  a 
number  of  his  soldiers  to  remain  and  bury  the  dead,  and 
assist  the  wounded  ;  and  then,  followed  by  the  remainder 
and  the  prisoners  under  their  charge,  passed  out,  and  were 
soon  from  the  heated  atmosphere  in  the  cool  morning  air. 
The  moon  was  still  serenely  shining,  but  the  stars  that 
keep  the  earliest  hours  were  setting,  and  the  eastern  sky 
was  growing  light  with  the  hazy  gray  of  coming  morn. 

^  I  told  you  day-dawn  was  at  hand,"  said  the  count,  as 


AT  THE  PLAGUE-PIT. 


226 


er 

re 

Hir. 


as 


he  sprung  into  his  saddle ;  "  and,  lu !  in  the  sky  it  is  gray 
already." 

"It  is  time  for  it  I "  said  Sir  Norman,  as  he,  too.  got  into 
his  seat;  "this  has  been  the  longest  night  I  have  ever 
known  and  the  most  eventful  one  of  my  life." 

"  And  the  end  is  not  yet  I  Leoline  waits  to  decide  be- 
tween us ! " 

Sir  Norman  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  True !  But  I  liave  little  doubt  what  that  decision 
will  be!  I  presume  >ou  will  have  to  deliver  up  your 
prisoners  before  you  can  visit  her,  and  I  will  avail  my- 
self of  the  opportunity  to  snatch  a  few  moments  to  fultil 
a  melancholy  duty  of  my  own." 

"  As  you  please.  I  have  no  objection ;  but  in  that  case 
you  will  need  some  one  to  guide  you  to  the  place  of  ren- 
dezvous ;  so  I  will  order  my  private  jittendant  yonder,  to 
keep  you  in  sight,  and  guide  you  to  me  when  your  business 
is  ended." 

The  count  had  given  the  order  to  start,  the  moment 
they  had  left  the  ruin,  and  the  conversation  had  been 
carried  on  while  riding  at  a  break-neck  gallop.  Sir  Nor- 
man thanked  him  for  his  offer,  and  they  rode  in  silence 
until  they  reached  the  city,  and  their  paths  diverged ;  Sir 
Norman's  leading  to  the  apothecary  shop  where  he  had 
left  Ormiston,  and  the  count's  leading — he  knew  best 
where.  George — the  attendant  referred  to — joined  the 
knight,  and  leaving  his  horse  in  his  care,  Sir  Norman  en- 
tered the  shop,  and  encountered  the  spectral  proprietor  at 
the  door. 

«  What  of  my  friend  ?  "  was  his  eager  inquiry.  "  Has 
he  yet  shown  signs  of  returning  consciousness  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no  ?  "  replied  the  apothecary,  with  a  groan,  that 
came  wailing  up  like  a  whistle  ;  "  he  was  so  excessively 
dead,  that  there  was  no  use  keeping  him ;  and  as  the  room 
was  wanted  for  other  purposes,  I — pr;iy,my  dear  sir,  don't 
look  so  violent — I  put  him  in  the  pest-cart  and  had  him 
buried." 

"  In  the  plague-pit  I "  shouted  Sir  Norman,  making  a 
spring  at  him ;  but  the  man  darted  off  like  a  ghostly  flash 
into  the  inner  room,  and  closed  and  bolted  the  door  in  a 


226 


THE  MIBNIOHT  QUEEN. 


i 


twinkling.  Sir  Norman  kicked  at  it  spitefully,  but  it  re- 
sisted his  every  effort ;  and,  overcoming  a  strong  temptation 
to  smash  every  bottle  in  the  shop,  he  sprung  once  more  in- 
to the  saddle,  and  rode  off  to  the  plague-pit.  It  was  the 
second  time  within  the  last  twelve  hours  he  had  stood 
there ;  and  on  the  previous  occasion,  he  who  now  lay  in 
it,  had  stood  by  his  side.  He  looked  do\^Ti,  sickened  and 
horror-struck  at  the  dreadful  seething,  cracking  mass,  and 
thought  how  little  either  of  them  dreamed  that  one  was 
so  soon  to  be  buried  in  its  loathsome  depths.  Perhaps, 
before  another  morning,  he,  too,  might  be  there;  and, 
feeling  his  blood  run  cold  at  the  thought,  he  was  turning 
away,  when  some  one  came  rapidly  up,  and  sunk  down 
with  a  moaning,  gasping  cry  on  its  very  edge.  That 
shape — tall  and  slender,  and  graceful — he  well  knew; 
and  leaning  over  he  laid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder,  and 
exclaimed:  . 

"LaMasquel" 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK.         22V 


it  re- 
tation 
)re  iii- 
LS  the 
stood 
ay  in 
d  and 
s,  and 
3  was 
rhapa, 

and, 
irning 
down 

That 
:new; 
r,  and 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  IVfASK. 

The  cowering  form  rose  up ;  but,  seeing  who  it  was, 
sunk  down  again,  with  its  face  groveling  in  the  dust,  and 
with  another  prolonged  moaning  cry : 

"  Madame  Masque  1 "  he  said,  wonderingly ;  "  what  is 
this?" 

He  bent  to  raise  her  ;  but,  with  a  sort  of  scream,  she 
held  out  her  arms  to  keep  him  back. 

"  No,  no,  no  I  Touch  me  not !  Hate  me — kill  me  I  Z 
have  murdered  your  friend  I " 

Sir  Norman  recoiled  as  if  from  a  deadly  serpent. 

"Murdered  him!  Madame,  in  Heaven's  name,  what 
have  you  said  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  have  not  stabbed  him,  or  poisoned  him,  or  shot 
him ;  but  I  am  his  murderer,  nevertheless  1  '*  she  wailed, 
writhing  in  a  sort  of  gnawing  inward  torture. 

"  Madame,  I  do  not  understand  you  at  all  I  Surely  you 
are  raving  when  you  talk  like  this." 

Still  moaning  on  the  edge  of  the  plague-pit,  she  half 
rose  up,  with  both  hands  clasped  tightly  over  her  heart, 
as  if  she  would  have  held  back  from  all  human  ken  the 
anguish  that  was  destroying  her. 

"  No — ^no  I  I  am  not  mad — pray  Heaven  I  were  I  Oh, 
that  they  had  strangled  me  in  the  tlrst  hour  of  my  birth, 
as  they  would  a  viper,  rather  than  I  should  have  lived 
through  all  this  life  of  misery  and  guilt,  to  end  it  by  this 
last,  worst  crime  of  al'. ! " 

Sir  Norman  stood  and  looked  at  her  still  "  far  wide." 
He  knew  well  enough  whose  murderer  she  called  herself ; 
but  why  she  did  so,  or  how  she  could  possibly  bring 
about  his  death  was  a  mystery  altogether  too  perplexed 
tor  him  to  solve. 


228 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


!ii 


I 


M 


«  Madame,  compose  yourself,  I  beseech  you,  and  tell  me 
what  you  mean.  It  is  to  my  friend,  Ormiston,  you  allude 
—is  it  not  ?  " 

"Yes— yes  I  surely  you  need  not  ask." 

"I  know  that  he  is  dead  and  buried  in  this  horrible 
place  ;  but  why  you  should  accuse  yourself  of  murdering 
him,  I  confess  I  do  not  know." 

«  Then  you  shall !  "  she  cried  passionately.  "  And  you. 
will  wonder  at  it  no  longer  I  You  are  the  last  one  to  whom 
the  revelation  can  be  made  on  earth ;  and,  now  that  my 
hours  are  numbered,  it  matters  little  whether  it  is  told  or 
not !     Was  it  not  you  who  first  found  him  dead  ? " 

"It  was  I — j'^es.  And  how  he  came  to  his  end,  I  have 
been  puzzling  myself  in  vain  to  discover  ever  since." 

She  rose  up,  drew  herself  to  her  full  majestic  height, 
and  looked  at  him  with  a  terrible  glance. 

"Shall  I  tell  you?" 

"  You  have  had  no  hand  in  it,"  he  answered,  with  a 
cold  chill  at  the  tone  and  look,  "for  he  loved  you !" 

"  I  have  had  a  hand  in  it — I  alone  have  been  the  cause 
of  it !    But  for  me  he  would  be  living  still  I  " 

"  Madame !  "  exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  in  horror. 

"  You  need  not  look  as  if  you  thought  me  mad,  for  I 
tell  you  it  is  Heaven's  truth  !  You  say  right — he  loved 
me ;  but  for  that  love  he  would  be  living  now !  " 

"  You  are  speaking  riddles  which  I  cannot  read.  How 
could  that  love  have  caused  his  death,  since  his  dearest 
wishes  were  to  be  granted  to-night  ? ' 

"  He  told  you  that,  did  he  ?  " 

"  He  did.  He  told  me  you  were  to  remove  your  mask ; 
and  if,  on  seeing  you,  he  still  loved  you,  you  were  to  be 
his  wife." 

"  Then  woe  to  him  for  ever  having  extorted  such  a 
promise  from  me !  Oh,  I  warned  him  again,  and  again, 
and  again.  I  told  him  how  it  would  be — I  begged  him  to 
desist,  but  no,  he  was  blind,  he  was  mad  ;  he  would  rush 
on  his  own  doom !  I  fulfilled  my  promise,  and  behold  the 
result!" 

She  pointed  witli  a  frantic  gesture  to  the  plague-pit, 
and  wrung  her  beautiful  hands  with  the  same  moaning 
of  anguish. 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK. 


220 


to 
rush 
the 


ling 


"Do  I  hear  aright?"  said  Sir  Norman,  looking  at  her, 
and  really  doubting  if  his  ears  had  not  deceived  him. 
"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that,  in  keeping  your  word  and 
showing  him  your  face,  you  have  caused  his  death  ?  " 

"  I  do !  I  had  warned  him  of  it  before.  I  told  him 
there  were  sights  too  horrible  to  look  on  and  live,  but 
nothing  would  convince  him  I  Oh,  why  was  the  curse  of 
life  ever  bestowed  upon  such  a  hideous  thing  as  I ! " 

Sir  Norman  gazed  at  her  in  a  state  of  hopeless  be^ 
wilderment.  He  had  thought,  from  the  moment  he  saw 
her  first,  that  there  was  something  wrong  with  her  brain, 
to  make  her  act  in  such  a  mysterious,  eccentric  sort  of 
way ;  but  he  had  never  positively  thought  her  so  far  gone 
as  this.  In  his  own  mind,  he  set  her  down,  now,  as  being 
as  mad  as  a  March  hare,  and  accordingly  answered  in  that 
soothing  tone  people  use  to  imbeciles  : 

"  My  dear  Madame  Masque,  pray  do  not  excite  yourself, 
or  say  such  dreadful  things.  I  am  sure  you  would  not 
willfully  cause  the  death  of  any  one,  much  less  that  of 
one  who  loved  you  as  he  did." 

La  Masque  broke  into  a  wild  laugh,  almost  worse  to 
hear  than  her  former  despairing  moans. 

"  The  man  thinks  me  mad  I  He  will  not  believe,  unless 
he  sees  and  knows  for  himself !  Perhaps  you,  too,  Sir 
Norman  Kingsley,"  she  cried,  changing  into  sudden  fierce- 
ness, "  would  like  to  see  the  face  behind  this  mask  ? — would 
like  to  see  what  has  slain  your  friend,  and  share  his  fate  ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  said  Sir  Norman.  "  I  should  like  to  see 
it ;  and  I  think  I  may  safely  promise  not  to  die  from  the 
effects.  But  surely,  madame,  you  deceive  yourself ;  no 
face,  however  ugly — even  supposing  you  to  possess  such 
a  one — could  produce  such  dismay  as  to  cause  death." 

*'  You  shall  see." 

She  was  looking  down  into  the  plague-pit,  standing  so 
close  to  its  cracking  edge,  that  Sir  Norman's  blood  ran 
cold,  in  the  momentary  expectation  to  see  her  slip  and 
fall  headlong  in.  Her  voice  was  less  fierce  and  less  wild, 
but  her  hands  were  still  clasped  tightly  over  her  heart, 
as  if  to  ease  the  unutterable  pain  there.  Suddenly,  she 
looked  up,  and  said,  in  an  altered  tone : 

*♦  You  have  lost  Leoline?" 


280 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


« And  found  her  again.  She  is  in  the  power  of  one 
Count  L'Estrange." 

"  And  if  in  his  power,  pray,  how  have  you  found  her  ?  " 

"  Because  we  are  both  to  meet  in  her  presence  within 
this  veiv  hour,  and  she  is  to  decide  between  us." 

"  Has  Count  L'Estrange  promised  you  th's  ?  " 

'■'  He  has." 

*'  And  you  have  no  doubt  what  her  decision  may  be  ?  " 

"Not  the  slightest." 

"  How  came  you  1x)  know  that  sho  was  carried  off  by 
this  count  ?  " 

"  He  confessed  it  himself." 

"Voluntarily?" 

«  No ;  I  taxed  him  with  it,  and  he  owned  to  the  deed ; 
but  he  voluntarily  promised  to  take  me  to  her,  and  abide 
by  her  decision." 

"Extraordinary!"  said  La  Masque,  as  if  to  herself. 
"Whimsical  as  he  is,  I  scar3ely  expected  he  would  give 
her  up  so  easily  as  this." 

"Then  you  know  him,  madame?"  said  Sir  Norman 
pointedly. 

"  There  are  few  things  I  do  not  know,  and  rare  dis- 
guises I  cannot  penetrate.  So  you  have  discovered  it, 
too?" 

"  Noi  Madame,  my  eyes  were  not  sharp  enough,  nor  had 
I  sufficient  cleverness,  even,  for  that.  It  was  Hubert,  the 
Earl  of  Rochester's  page,  who  told  me  who  he  was." 

"  Ah,  the  page !  said  La  Masque,  quickly.  "  You  have 
then  been  speaking  to  him  ?  What  do  you  think  of  his 
resemblance  to  Leoline  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  was  the  most  astonishing  resemblance  I  ever 
saw.  But  he  is  not  the  only  one  who  bears  Leoline's 
face." 

"And  the  other  is?" 

"  The  other  is  she  whom  you  sent  me  to  see  in  the  old 
ruins.  Madame,  I  wish  you  would  tell  me  the  secret  of 
this  wonderful  likeness ;  for  I  am  certain  you  know,  and 
I  am  equally  certain  it  is  not  accidental." 

"  You  are  right.  Leoline  knows  already ;  for,  with  the 
presentiment  that  mj'  end  was  near,  I  visited  her  when 
you  left,  and  gave  her  her  whole  history,  in  writing.    The 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK. 


231 


had 
the 


me's 


the 
'^hen 
The 


explanation  is  simple  enough.  Leoline,  Miranda  and 
Hubert,  are  sisters  and  brother." 

Some  misty  idea  that  such  was  the  case  had  been  strug- 
gling through  Sir  Norman's  slow  mind,  unformed  and 
without  shape,  ever  since  he  had  seen  the  trio ;  therefore 
he  was  not  the  least  astonished  when  he  heard  the  fact 
announced.     Only  in  one  thing  he  was  a  little  disappoi  nted. 

"  Then  Hubert  is  really  a  boy  ?  "  he  said,  half-dejectedly. 

"  Certainly  he  is.    Wliat  did  you  tiike  him  to  be  ?  " 

«  Why,  I  thought — that  is,  I  do  not  know,"  said  Sir 
Norman,  quite  blushing  at  being  guilty  of  so  much  ro- 
mance, "  but  that  he  was  a  woman  in  disguise.  You  see 
he  is  so  handsome,  and  looks  so  much  like  Leoline,  that 
I  could  not  help  thinking  so."  . 

"He  is  Leoline's  twin  brother — that  accounts  for  it. 
When  does  she  become  your  wife?" 

**  This  very  morning,  God  willing ! "  said  Sir  Norman, 
fervently. 

« Amen  I  And  may  your  life  and  hers  be  long  and 
happy.    What  becomes  of  the  rest  ?  " 

"Since  Hubert's  her  brother,  h3  shall  come  with  us,  if 
he  will.    As  ^or  the  other,  she,  alas  !  is  dead." 

"Dead!"  cried  La  Masque.  «How^  When?  She 
was  living,  to-night  I " 

"  True  I     She  died  of  a  wound." 

"  A  wound  ?    Surely  not  given  by  the  dwarfs  hand  ?  " 

"  No,  no ;  it  was  quite  accidental.  But  since  you  know 
so  much  of  the  dwarf,  perhaps  you  also  know  he  is  now 
the  king's  prisoner  ?  " 

« I  did  not  know  it ;  but  I  surmised  as  much  when  I 
discovered  you  and  Count  L'Estrange,  followed  by  such 
a  body  of  men,  visited  the  ruin.  Well,  his  career  has 
been  long  and  dark  enough,  and  even  the  plague  seemed 
to  spare  him  for  the  executioner.  And  so  the  poor  mock- 
queen  is  dead  ?  Well,  her  sister  will  not  long  survive 
her." 

"  Great  heavens,  madam  I "  cried  Sir  Norman,  aghast. 
*'  You  do  not  mean  to  say  that  Leoline  is  going  to  die  ?  " 

"Oh,  no  I  I  hope  Leoline  has  a  long  and  h;»ppy  life 
before  hor.  But  the  wretched,  J^uilty  aist.^r  1  mean  i^ 
myself  j  for  I^  too,  Sir  Norm-in,  am  her  sitjt^jr," 


232 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


At  this  new  disclosure,  Sir  Norman  stood  perfectly 
potrified,  and  La  Masque,  looking  down  at  the  dreadful 
l)laco  at  her  feet,  went  rapidly  on  : 

"  Alas  and  alas,  that  it  should  be  so  ;  but  it  is  the  direful 
trutli.  We  bear  the  same  name,  we  had  the  same  father ; 
and  yet  I  have  been  the  curse  and  bane  of  their  lives." 

"And  Leoline  knows  this?  " 

"  She  never  knew  until  this  night,  or  any  one  else  alive ; 
and  no  one  should  know  it  now,  were  not  my  ghastl}'^  life 
ending.  I  prayed  her  to  forgive  me  for  the  wrong  I  have 
done  her  auvl  she  may,  for  she  is  gentle  and  good — but 
when,  when  shall  I  be  able  to  forgive  myself  ?  " 

The  sharp  pain  in  her  voice  jarred  on  Sir  Norman's  ear 
and  heart ;  and,  to  get  rid  of  its  dreary  echo,  he  hurriedly 
asked : 

"  You  say  you  bear  the  same  name.  May  I  ask  what 
that  name  is  V  " 

"It  is  one.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  before  which  your 
own  ancient  title  pales.  We  are  Moiitmorencis,  and  in 
our  veins  runs  the  proudest  blood  in  France." 

"  Then  Leoline  is  French,  and  of  noble  birth  ?  "  said 
Sir  Norman,  with  a  thrill  of  pleasure.  "  I  loved  her  for 
herself  alone,  and  would  have  wedded  her  had  she  been 
the  child  of  a  beggar ;  but  I  rejoice  to  hear  this,  neverthe- 
less.   Her  father,  then,  bore  a  title  ?  " 

"Her  father  was  the  Marquis  de  Montmorenci,  but 
Leoline's  mother  and  mine  were  not  the  same — had  they 
been,  the  lives  of  all  four  might  have  been  very  different ; 
but  it  is  too  late  to  lament  that  now.  My  mother  had  no 
gentle  blood  in  her  veins,  as  Leoline's  had,  for  she  was 
but  a  fisherman's  daughter,  torn  from  her  h.ome,  and 
married  by  force.  Neither  did  she  love  my  father,  not- 
withstanding his  youth,  rank,  and  passionate  love  for  her, 
for  she  was  betrothed  to  another  bourgeois^  like  herself. 
For  his  sake  she  refused  even  the  title  of  marchioness, 
offered  her  in  the  moment  of  youthful  and  ardent  passion, 
and  clung,  with  deathless  truth,  to  her  fisher-lover.  The 
blood  of  the  Montmorencis  is  fierce  and  hot,  and  brooks 
no  opposition  "  (Sir  Norman  thought  of  Miranda,  and  in- 
wardly owned  that  that  was  a  fict),  " and  the  marquis, 
in  his  jealous  wrath^  both  ha  tod  and  iQved  her  at  the  st^ra© 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK. 


233 


time,  and  vowed  deadly  vengeance  against  her  bourgeois 
lover.  That  vow  he  kept.  The  young  fisherman  was 
found  one  morning  at  his  lady-love's  door  without  a  head, 
and  the  bleeding  trunk  told  no  ttiles.  Of  Cvourse,  for  a 
while,  she  was  distracted  and  so  on  ;  but  when  the  first 
shock  of  her  grief  was  over,  my  father  carried  her  orf, 
and  will  she  nil  she  made  her  his  wife.  Fierce  hatrctl,  1 
told  you,  was  mingled  with  his  fierce  love,  and  before  t  le 
honeymoon  was  over  it  began  to  break  out.  One  ni^lit, 
in  a  fit  of  jealous  passion,  to  which  he  was  addicted,  he 
led  her  into  a  room  she  had  never  before  been  permitted 
to  enter ;  showed  her  a  grinning  human  skull,  and  told 
her  it  was  her  lover's  !  In  his  cruel  exultation,  he  con- 
fessed all  ;  how  he  had  caused  him  to  be  nmrdered ;  his 
head  severed  from  the  body ;  and  broug)\t  here  to  punish 
her  some  day  for  her  obstinate  refusal  to  love  him.  Up 
to  this  time  she  had  been  quiet  and  paf-sivc,  bearing  her 
fate  with  a  sort  of  dumb  resignation ;  but  now  a  spirit  of 
vengeance,  fiercer  and  more  terrible  than  his  own,  began 
to  kindle  within  her;  and,  kneeling  down  before  the 
ghastly  thing,  she  breathed  a  wish — a  prayer — to  the 
avenging  Jehovah,  so  unutterably  horrible,  that  even  her 
husband  had  to  fly  with  curdling  blood  from  the  room. 
That  dreadful  prayer  was  heard — that  wish  fulfilled  in  me ; 
but  long  before  I  looked  on  the  light  of  day  that  frantic 
woman  had  repented  of  the  awful  deed  she  had  done. 
Repentance  came  too  late ;  the  sin  of  the  father  was  visited 
on  the  child,  and  on  the  mother,  too,  for  the  moment  her 
eyes  fell  upon  me,  she  became  a  laving  maniac,  and  died 
before  the  first  day  of  my  life  had  ended.  Nurse  and 
physician  fied  at  the  sight  of  me ;  but  my  father,  though 
thrilled  with  horror,  bore  the  shock,  and  bowed  to  t]ie  re- 
tributive justice  oi  the  angry  Deity  she  had  invoked.; 
His  whole  life,  his  whole  nature,  changed  from  that  hour 
and  kneeling  beside  my  dead  mother,  as  he  afterward  told 
me,  he  vowed  before  high  Heaven  to  cherish  and  love  me, 
even  as  though  I  had  not  been  the  ghastly  creature  I  was. 
The  physician  he  bound  by  a  terrible  oath  to  silence ;  the 
nurse  he  forced  back,  and,  in  spite  of  her  disgust  and  ab- 
horrence, compelled  her  to  nurse  and  care  for  me.  The 
(Jead  Tyas  buried  out  of  sight  j  and  we  had  rooms  in  d,  cUs- 


284 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


tant  part  of  the  house  which  no  one  ever  entered  but  my 
father  and  the  nurse.  Though  set  apart  from  my  birth 
as  sometliing  accursed,  I  had  the  intellect  and  capacity  of, 
yes,  far  greater  intellect  and  capacity  than,  most  children ; 
and,  as  years  passed  by,  my  father,  true  to  his  vow,  be- 
came himself  my  tutor  and  companion.  He  did  not  love 
rae — that  was  an  utter  impossibility  ;  but  time  so  blunts 
the  edge  of  all  things,  that  even  the  nurse  became  recon- 
ciled to  me,  and  my  father  could  scarcely  do  less  than  a 
stranger.  So  I  was  cared  for,  and  instructed,  and  edu- 
cated ;  and  knowing  not  what  a  monstrosity  I  was,  I  loved 
them  both  ardently,  and  lived  on  happily  enough,  in  my 
splendid  prison,  for  my  first  ten  years  in  this  world.  Then 
came  a  change.  My  nurse  died ;  and  it  became  clear  that 
I  must  quit  my  solitary  life,  and  see  the  sort  of  world  I 
lived  in.  So  my  father,  seeing  all  this,  sat  down  in  the 
twilight  one  night  beside  me,  and  told  me  the  story  of  my 
hideousness.  I  was  but  a  child  then,  and  it  is  many  and 
many  years  ago ;  but  this  gray  summer  morning,  I  feel 
what  I  felt  then,  as  vividly  as  I  did  at  the  time.  I  had 
not  learned  the  great  lesson  of  life,  then — endurance.  I 
have  scarcely  learned  it  yet,  or  I  should  bear  life's  burden 
longer,  but  that  first  night's  despair  has  darkened  my 
whole  after-life.  For  weeks  I  would  not  listen  to  my 
father's  proposal,  to  hide  what  would  send  all  the  world 
from  me  in  loathing  behind  a  mask ;  but  I  came  to  my 
senses  at  last,  and  from  that  day  to  the  present — more 
days  than  either  you  or  I  would  care  to  count — it  has  not 
been  one  hour  altlogether  off  my  face.  I  was  the  wonder 
and  talk  of  Paris,  when  I  did  appear ;  and  most  of  the  sur- 
mises were  wild  and  wide  of  the  mark  enough — some  even 
going  so  far  as  to  say  it  was  all  owing  to  my  wonderful 
unheard-of  beauty  that  I  was  thus  mysteriously  concealed 
from  view.  I  had  a  soft  voice  and  a  tolerable  shape ;  and 
upon  this,  I  presume,  they  founded  the  affirmation.  But 
my  father  and  I  kept  our  own  counsel,  and  let  them  say 
what  they  listed.  I  had  never  been  named,  as  other 
children  are ;  but  they  called  me  La  Masque  now.  I  had 
masters  and  professors  without  end,  and  studied  astronomy 
and  astrology,  and  the  mystic  lore  of  the  old  Egyptians, 
m^  b^QJVnie  noted  as  a  prodigy,  and  a  wonder^  and  ^  mir- 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK. 


285 


ftcle  of  learning,  far  and  near.  The  arts  used  to  discover 
the  mystery  and  make  me  unmask  were  innumerable  and 
almost  incredible ;  but  I  baffled  them  all,  and  began,  after 
a  time,  rather  to  enjoy  the  sensation  I  created  than  other- 
wise. There  was  one,  in  particular,  possessed  of  even 
more  devouring  curiosity  than  the  rest,  a  certain  youn,%' 
countess  of  miraculous  beauty,  whom  I  need  not  describe, 
since  you  have  her  very  image  in  Leoline.  The  3Iarquis 
de  Montmorenci,  of  a  somewhat  inflammable  nature,  loved 
her  almost  as  much  as  he  had  done  my  mother,  and  she 
accepted  him,  and  they  were  married.  She  may  have 
loved  him  (I  see  no  reason  why  she  should  not),  but  still 
to  this  day  I  think  it  was  more  to  discover  the  secret  of 
La  Masque  than  from  any  other  cause.  I  loved  my  beauti- 
ful new  mother  too  well  to  let  her  find  it  out ;  although 
from  the  day  she  entered  our  house  as  a  bride,  until  that 
on  which  she  lay  on  her  death-bed,  her  whole  aim,  day 
and  night,  was  its  discovery.  There  seemed  to  be  a  fa- 
tality about  my  father's  wives ;  for  the  beautiful  Honorine 
lived  scarcely  longer  than  her  predecdssor,  and  she  died, 
leaving  those  three  children — twins,  ill  of  whom  you  al- 
ready know,  and  one  of  whom  you  1  jve.  To  my  care  she 
intrusted  them  on  her  deathbed,  and  she  could  scarcely 
have  intrusted  them  to  worse ;  for,  though  I  liked  her,  I 
most  decidedly  disliked  them.  They  were  lovely  children 
— ^their  lovely  mother's  image ;  and  they  were  named  Hu- 
bert, Leoline,  and  Honorine,  o:*,  as  you  knew  her,  Miranda. 
Even  my  father  did  not  seem  to  care  for  them  much,  not 
even  as  much  as  he  cared  for  me ;  and  when  he  lay  on  his 
deathbed,  one  yeai  later,  I  was  left,  young  as  I  was,  their 
sole  guardian,  and  trustee  of  all  his  wealth.  That  wealth 
was  not  very  fairly  divided — one-half  being  left  to  me  and 
the  other  half  to  be  shared  equally  between  them ;  but,  in 
my  wicked  ambition,  I  was  not  satisfied  even  with  that. 
Some  of  my  father's  fierce  and  cruel  nature  I  inherited ; 
and  I  resolved  to  be  clear  of  those  three  stumbling-blocks, 
and  recompense  myself  for  my  other  misfortunes  by  every 
indulgence  boundless  riches  could  bestow.  So,  secretly, 
and  in  the  night,  I  left  my  home,  'th  an  old  and  trusty 
servant,  known  to  you  as  Prudence,  and  my  unfortunate 
little  brother  and  sisters.    Stran^o  to  say,  Prudence  waa 


II 


^66 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


attached  to  one  of  them,  and  to  neither  of  the  rest — that 
one  was  Leoline,  whom  she  resolved  to  keep  and  care  for, 
and  neither  she  nor  I  minded  what  became  of  the  other 
two.  From  Paris  we  went  to  Dijon  where  we  dropped 
Hubert  into  the  turn  of  the  convent  door,  with  his  name 
attached,  and  left  him  where  he  would  be  well  taken  care 
of  and  no  questions  asked.  With  the  other  two  we  went 
to  Dover,  eu  route  for  England ;  and  there  Prudence  got 
rid  of  Honorine  in  a  singular  manner.  A  packet  was  about 
starting  for  the  island  of  our  destination,  and  she  saw  a 
strange-looking  little  man  carrying  his  luggfige  from  the 
wharf  into  a  boat.  She  had  the  infant  in  her  arms,  hav- 
ing carried  it  out  for  the  identical  purpose  of  getting  rid 
of  it ;  and,  without  more  ado,  she  laid  it  down,  unseen, 
among  boxes  and  bundles,  and,  like  Hagar,  stood  afar  off 
to  see  what  became  of  it.  That  ugly  little  man  was  the 
dwarf ;  and  his  amazement  on  finding  it  among  his  goods 
and  chattels  you  may  imagine ;  but  he  kept  it  notwith- 
standing, though  why  is  best  known  to  himself.  A  few 
weeks  after  that  we,  too,  came  over,  and  Prudence  took  up 
her  residence  in  a  quiet  village  a  long  way  from  London. 
Thus  you  see.  Sir  Norman,  how  it  comes  about  that  we  are 
so  related,  and  the  wrong  I  have  done  them  all." 

"  You  have,  indeed  I  "  said  Sir  Norman,  gravely,  having 
listened,  much  shocked  and  displeased,  at  this  open  con-- 
fession  ;  "  and  to  one  of  them  it  is  beyond  your  power  to 
atone.  Do  you  know  the  life  of  misery  to  which  she  has 
been  assigned  ?  " 

"  I  know  it  all,  and  have  repented  for  it  in  my  own 
heart,  in  dust  and  ashes  I  Even  I — unlike  all  other 
earthly  creatures  as  I  am — have  a  conscience,  and  it  has 
given  me  no  rest  night  or  day  since.  From  that  hour  I 
have  never  lost  sight  of  them  ;  every  sorrow  they  have 
undergone  h:i.s  Leon  known  to  me,  and  added  to  my  own; 
and  yet  I  could  not,  or  would  not,  undo  what  I  had  done. 
Leoline  kror.  :^  nil  now  ;  and  she  will  tell  Hubert,  since 
destiny  has  brought  them  together  ;  and  whether  they 
will  forgive  me  I  know  not.  But  yet  they  might ;  for 
they  have  long  and  happy  lives  before  them  and  we 
can  forgive  everything  to  the  dead." 

♦*  But  you  are  not  dead,"  said  Sir  Norman ;  "and  there 


WHAT  WAS  BEHIND  THE  MASK. 


287 


f  I 


is  repentance  and  pardon  for  all.  Much  as  you  have 
wronged  them,  they  will  forgive  you  ;  and  Heaven  is  not 
less  merciful  than  they ! " 

"  They  may  ;  for  I  have  striven  to  atone.  In  my 
house  there  are  proofs  and  papers  that  will  put  them  in 
possession  of  all,  and  more  than  all,  they  have  lost.  But 
life  is  a  burden  of  torture  I  will  bear  no  lon^^or.  The 
death  of  him  who  died  for  me  this  night  is  the  crowning; 
tragody  of  my  miserable  life  ;  and  if  my  hour  were  not 
at  hiind,  I  should  not  have  told  you  this." 

"  But  you  have  not  told  me  the  fearful  (^ause  of  so 
much  guilt  and  suffering.     What  is  V)ehind  that  mask  ?  " 

"Would  you  U)o  see?"  she  asked,  in  a  terrible  voice, 
"  and  die  ?  " 

"I  have  told  you  it  is  not  in  my  nature  to  die  easily, 
and  it  is  something  far  stronger  than  mere  curiosity 
makes  me  ask." 

"  Be  it  so  I  the  sky  is  growing  red  with  day-dawn,  and 
and  I  shall  never  see  the  sun  rise  more,  for  I  am  already 
plague-struck." 

That  sweetest  of  all  voices  ceased.  The  white  hands 
removed  the  mask  and  the  floating  fall  of  hair,  and  re- 
vealed, to  Sir  Norman's  horror-struck  gaze,  the  grisly 
face  and  head  of  bone — the  hollow  eye-sockets,  the  grin- 
ning mouth,  and  fleshless  cheeks  of  a  skeleton  I 

He  saw  it  but  for  one  fearful  instant — the  next,  she 
had  thrown  up  both  arms,  and  leaped  headlong  into  the 
loathly  plague-pit.  lie  saw  her  for  a  second  or  two  heav- 
ing and  writhing  in  the  putrid  heap ;  and  then  tlie  strong 
man  reeled  and  fell  with  his  face  on  the  groimd,  not  faint- 
ing, but  sick  unto  death.  Of  all  the  dreadful  things  he 
had  witnessed  that  night  there  was  nothing  so  dreadful 
as  this  ;  of  all  the  horror  he  had  felt  before,  there  was 
none  to  equal  what  he  felt  now.  In  his  momentary 
delirium,  it  seemed  to  him  she  was  reaching  her  arms  of 
bone  up  to  drag  him  in,  and  that  the  skeleton  face  was 
mopping,  and  mowing,  and  grinning  at  him  on  the  edge 
of  the  awful  pit.  And,  covering  his  eyes  with  his 
hands,  he  sprung  up  and  fled  away. 


'  ■ 


288 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


DAY-DAWN. 


All  this  time,  the  attendant,  George,  had  been  sitting, 
very  much  at  his  ease,  on  horseback,  looking  after  Sir 
Norman's  charger  and  admiring  the  beauties  of  sunrise. 
He  had  seen  Sir  Norman  in  conversation  with  a  strange 
female,  and  not  much  liking  his  near  proximity  to  the 
plague-pit,  was  rather  impatient  for  it  to  come  to  an  end ; 
but  when  he  saw  the  tragic  manner  in  which  it  did  end, 
his  consternation  was  beyond  all  bounds.  Sir  Nor- 
man, in  his  horrified  flight,  would  have  fairly  passed  him 
unnoticed,  had  not  George  arrested  him  by  a  loud  "  view- 
hallo  I " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Norman,"  he  exclaimed,  as 
that  gentleman  turned  his  distracted  face  ;  "  but  it  seems 
to  me  you  are  running  away.  Here  is  your  horse  ;  and 
allow  me  to  say,  unless  we  hurry  we  will  scarcely  reach 
the  count  by  sunrise." 

Sir  Norman  leaned  against  his  horse,  and  shaded  his 
eyes  with  his  himd,  shuddering  like  one  in  an  ague. 

"  Wiiy  did  that  woman  leap  into  the  plague-pit  ?  "  in- 
quired George,  looking  at  him  curiously.  "  Was  it  not 
the  sorceress,  La  Masque  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes.  Do  not  ask  me  any  questions  now,"  replied 
Sir  Norman,  in  a  smothered  voice,  and  with  an  impatient 
wave  of  his  hand. 

"  Whatever  you  please  sir,"  said  George,  with  the  flip- 
pancy of  his  class  ;  "  but  still  I  must  repeat,  if  you  do 
not  mount  instantly,  we  will  be  late  ;  and  my  master, 
the  count,  is  not  one  who  brooks  delay." 

The  young  knight  vaulted  into  the  saddle  without  a 
word,  and  started  off  at  a  breakneck  pace  into  the  city. 
George,  almost  unable  to  keep  up  with  him,  followed  in- 
stead of  leading,  rather  skeptical  in  his  own  mind  whether 


DAY-DAWN. 


289 


he  was  not  riding  after  a  moon-struck  lunatic.  Once  or 
twice  he  shouted  out  a  sharp-toned  inciuiry  as  to  whether 
he  knew  where  he  was  going,  and  tliat  they  were  taking 
the  wrong  way  :  to  all  of  wliich  Sir  Norman  deigned  not 
the  slightest  reply,  but  rode  more  recklessly  on.  George 
followed,  dauntlessly  determined  to  do  it  or  die  in  the  at- 
tempt ;  and  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  the  Flying  Dutchman, 
would  undoubtedly  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  just  then  following  his  track  on  dry  land.  But,  un- 
like the  hapless  Vanderdecken,  Sir  Norman  came  to  a 
halt  at  last,  and  that  so  suddenly  that  his  horse  stood  on 
his  beam-ends,  and  flourished  his  two  fore  limbs  in  the 
atmosphere.  It  was  before  La  Masque's  door ;  and  Sir 
Norman  was  out  of  the  saddle  in  a  flash,  and  knocking 
like  a  postman  with  the  handle  of  his  whip  on  the  door. 
The  thundering  reveille  rung  through  the  house,  making 
it  shake  to  its  center,  and  brought  the  anatomy  who  acted 
as  guardian  angel  of  the  establishment,  and  with  an 
excited  rush. 

**  La  Masque  is  not  at  home,  and  I  cannot  admit  you," 
was  his  sharp  salute. 

**  Then  I  shall  just  take  the  trouble  of  admitting  my- 
self," said  Sir  Norman,  shortly. 

And  without  further  ceremony,  he  pushed  aside  the 
skeleton  and  entered.  But  that  outraged  servitor  sprung 
in  his  path,  indignant  and  amazed. 

"No,  sir ;  I  cannot  permit  it.  I  do  not  know  you ;  and 
it  is  against  all  orders  to  admit  strangers  in  La  Masque's 
absence." 

"  Bah  I  you  old  simpleton  I "  remarked  Norman,  losing 
his  customary  respect  for  old  age  in  his  impatience,  "  I 
have  La  Masque's  order  for  what  I  am  about  to  do.  Get 
along  with  you  directly,  will  you  ?  Show  me  to  her  pri- 
vate room,  and  no  nonsense  I " 

He  tapped  his  sword-hilt  significantly  as  he  spoke,  and 
that  argument  proved  irresistible.  Grumbling,  sotto  voce, 
the  anatomy  stalked  up-stairs ;  and  the  other  followed, 
with  very  different  feelings  from  those  with  wliich  he  had 
mounted  that  staircase  last.  His  guide  paused  in  the  hall 
above,  with  his  hand  on  the  latdi  of  a  door. 


m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


"  This  is  her  private  room,  is  it  ?  "  demanded  Sir  Nor- 
man. 

«Yes." 

"  J  ust  stand  aside,  then,  and  let  me  pass." 

The  room  lie  entered  was  small,  simply  furnished,  and 
seemed  to  answer  as  bedchamber  and  study,  all  in  one. 
There  was  a  writing-table  under  a  window,  covered  with 
books,  and  he  glanced  at  them  with  some  curiosity.  They 
were  classics,  Greek  and  Latin,  and  other  unknown 
tongues — perhaps  Sanscrit  and  Chaldaic,  French  belles 
lettres,  novels,  and  poetry,  and  a  few  rare  old  English 
books.  There  were  no  papers,  however,  and  those  were 
what  he  was  in  search  of ;  «o  spying  a  drawer  in  the  table, 
he  pulled  it  hastily  open.  The  sight  that  met  his  eyes 
fairly  dazzed  him.  It  was  full  of  jewels  of  incomparable 
beauty  and  value,  strewn  as  carelessly  about  as  if  they 
were  "  sclate-stanes."  The  blaze  of  gems  at  the  midnight 
court  seemed  to  him  as  nothing  compared  with  the 
Golconda,  the  Valley  of  Diamonds  shooting  forth  sparks 
of  rainbow-fire  before  him  now.  Around  one  magnificent 
diamond  necklace  was  entwined  a  scrap  of  paper,  on 
which  was  written : 

"  The  family  jewels  of  the  Montmorencis.  To  be  given 
to  my  sisters  when  I  am  dead." 

That  settled  their  destiny.  All  this  blaze  of  diamonds 
rubies  and  opals  were  Leoline's ;  and  with  the  energetic 
rapidity  characteristic  of  our  young  friend  that  morning, 
he  swept  them  out  on  the  table,  and  resumed  his  searcu 
for  papers.  Ko  document  was  there  to  reward  his  searc>" 
but  the  brief  one  twined  round  the  necklace;  aud  he  was 
about  giving  up  in  despair,  when  a  small  brass  slide  in 
one  corner  caught  his  eye.  Instantly  he  was  at  it,  trying 
it  every  way,  shoving  it  out  and  in,  and  uj)  and  down., 
until  at  last  it  yielded  to  his  touch,  discloshig  an  innei 
drawer,  full  of  paj^ers  and  parchments.  One  glance  showed 
them  to  be  what  he  was  in  search  of — proofs  of  Leoline's 
and  Hubert's  identity,  with  the  will  of  the  marquis,  their 
father,  and  numerous  other  documents  relative  to  his 
wealth  and  estates.  These  precious  manuscripts  he  rolled 
together  in  a  bundle,  and  placed  carefully  in  his  doublet, 
and  then  seizing  a  beautifully- wrought  brass  casket,  that 


DAY-DAWN. 


241 


was 
le  in 

lying 
>vvii, 

Jinei: 

kved 

line's 

their 

his 

)lled 

Iblet, 

Ithat 


stood  beneath  the  table,  he  swept  the  jewels  in,  secured  it, 
and  strapped  it  to  his  belt.  This  brisk  and  important 
little  affair  being  over,  he  arose  to  go,  and  in  turning,  saw 
the  skeleton  porter  standing  in  the  doorway,  looking  on 
in  speechless  dismay. 

"  It 's  all  right,  my  ancient  friend ! "  observed  Sir  Nor- 
man, gravely.  "  These  papers,  must  go  before  the  king, 
and  these  jewels  to  their  proper  owner." 

«  Their  proper  owner ! "  repeated  the  old  man,  shrilly  ; 
"that  is  La  Masque.  Thief — robber — housebreaker — 
stop  I " 

**  My  good  old  friend,  you  will  do  yourself  a  mischief  if 
you  bawl  like  that.  Undoubtedly  these  things  were  La 
Masque's,  but  they  are  so  no  longer,  since  La  Masque  her- 
self is  among  the  things  that  were  I  '* 

**  You  shall  not  go  I "  yelled  the  old  man,  trembling 
with  rage  and  anger.    «  Help  I  help  I  help ! " 

« You  noisy  old  idiot  I "  cried  Sir  Norman,  losing  all 
patience,  "  I  will  throw  you  out  of  the  window  if  you  keep 
up  such  a  clamor  as  this.  I  tell  you  La  Masque  is 
dead  I " 

At  this  ominous  announcement,  the  ghastly  porter  fell 
back,  and  became,  if  possible,  a  shade  more  ghastly  than 
was  his  wont. 

"  Dead  and  buried ! "  repeated  Sir  Norman,  with  gloomy 
sternness ;  "  and  there  will  be  somebody  else  coming  to 
take  possession  shortly.  How  many  more  servants  are 
there  here  beside  yourself  ?  " 

"  Only  one,  sir — my  wife  Joanna.  In  mercy's  name, 
sir,  do  not  turn  us  out  in  the  streets  at  this  dreadful 
time  I " 

"  Not  1 1  You  and  your  wife  Joanna  may  stagnate  here 
till  you  blue-mold,  for  me.  But  keep  the  door  fast,  my 
good  old  friend,  and  admit  no  strangers,  but  those  who 
can  tell  you  La  Masque  is  dead  I " 

With  which  parting  piece  of  advice  Sir  Norman  left  the 
house,  and  joined  George,  who  sat  like  an  eflfigy  before 
the  door,  in  a  state  of  great  mental  wrath,  and  who 
accosted  him  rather  sullerJy  the  moment  he  made  his 
appearance. 
**  I  tell  you  what,  Sir  Nonnan  Kingsley,  if  you  have 


ir 


242 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QtJEEN. 


m\ 


many  more  morning  calls  to  make,  I  shall  beg  leave  to 
take  my  departure.  As  it  is,  I  know  we  are  behind  time, 
and  his  ma — the  count,  I  mean,  is  not  one  who  is  accus- 
tomed or  inclined  to  be  kept  waiting." 

"  I  am  quite  at  your  service  now,"  said  Sir  Norman, 
springing  on  horseback ;  "  so  away  with  you,  quick  as  you 
like." 

George  wanted  no  second  order.  Before  the  words 
were  well  out  of  his  companion's  mouth,  he  was  dashing 
away  like  a  bolt  from  a  bow,  as  furiously  as  if  on  a  steeple- 
chase, with  Sir  Norman  close  at  his  heels.  This  chain- 
lightning  rate  of  going  speedily  brought  them  to  their 
destination ;  and  they  rode,  flushed  and  breathless,  with 
their  steeds  all  a- foaming,  into  the  court  yard  of  the  royal 
palace  at  Whitehall,  just  as  the  early  rising  sun  was 
showing  his  liorid  and  burning  visage  above  the  horizon. 

The  court- yard,  unlike  the  city  streets,  swarmed  with 
busy  life.  Pages,  and  attendants,  and  soldiers  were  mov- 
ing hither  and  thither,  or  lounging  about,  preparing  for 
the  morning's  journey  to  Oxford.  Among  the  rest  Sir 
Norman  obsiTved  Hubert,  lying  very  much  at  his  ease 
wrapped  in  his  cloak,  on  the  ground,  and  chatting  lan- 
guidly with  a  pert  and  pretty  attendant  of  the  fair  Mis- 
tress Stuart,  lie  cut  short  his  flirtation,  however,  ab- 
ruptly enough,  and  sprung  to  his  feet  as  he  saw  Sir  Nor- 
man, wliile  George  immediately  darted  off  and  disappeared 
within  the  palace. 

"  Am  I  late,  Hubert  ?  "  said  his  hurried  questioner,  as 
he  drew  the  lad's  arm  within  his  own,  and  led  him  off  out 
of  hearing. 

"  I  think  not.  The  count,"  said  Hubert,  with  laughing 
emphasis,  "  lias  not  been  visible  since  he  entered  yonder 
doorway,  and  there  has  been  no  message  thpx  I  have  heard 
of.  Doubtless,  now  that  George  has  arrived,  the  message 
will  soon  be  here,  for  the  royal  procession  stprts  witu^n 
"half  an  hour." 

"  Are  you  sure  there  is  no  trick,  Hubert  ?  E'S'en  now 
he  may  be  with  Leoline  I " 

Hubert  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  He  may  be  ;  we  must  take  our  chance  for  that ;  but 
we  have  his  royal  word  to  the  contrary.    Not  that  I  havo 


■%-.f^^t'f 


DAY-DAWN. 


248 


lea\e  to 
nd  time, 
s  accus- 

^orman, 
Ic  as  you 

3  words 
dashing 
steeple- 
\  chain- 
to  their 
ss,  with 
tie  royal 
an  was 
lorizon. 
ed  with 
re  mov- 
ing for 
:est  Sir 
lis  ease 
ng  lan- 
lir  Mis- 
/^er,  ab- 
ir  Nor- 
)peared 

)ner,  as 
off  out 

ughing 
yonder 
3  heard 
lessage 
witL^n 

jn  now 


it;  but 
IhavQ 


much  faith  in  that  I "  said  Hubert,  in  parenthesis,  "kings' 
promises  and  French  porcelain  being  only  made  to  be 
broken  I " 

"  If  he  were  king  of  the  world  instead  of  only  England," 
cried  Sir  Norman,  with  flashing  eyes,  "  he  should  not  have 
Leoline  while  I  wore  a  sword  to  defend  her !  " 

"  Regicide  I  "  exclaimed  Hubert,  holding  up  both  hands 
in  affected  horror.  "Do  my  ears  deceive  me?  In  tliis 
the  loyal  and  chivalrous  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  ready  to 
die  for  king  and  country — " 

"Stuff  and  nonsense!"  interrupted  Sir  Norman,  im- 
patiently. "  Don't  talk  absurdly  all  the  time,  Hubert,  if 
you  can  help  it  1  I  tell  you  any  one,  be  lie  whom  he  may, 
that  attempts  to  take  Leoline  from  me,  must  reach  her 
over  my  dead  body  1 " 

"  Bravo !  You  ought  to  be  a  Frenchman,  Sir  Norman  I 
And  what  if  the  lady  herself,  finding  her  dazzling  suitor 
drop  his  barn-yard  feathers,  and  soar  over  lier  head  In 
his  own  eagle  plumes,  may  not  give  you  your  coup  de 
conge,  and  usurp  the  place  of  pretty  Madam  Stuart." 

"  You  cold-blooded  young  villain  I  if  you  insinuate 
such  a  thing  again,  I'll  throttle  you  I  Leoline  loves  me, 
and  me  alone ! " 

"  Doubtless  she  thinks  so ;  but  she  has  yet  to  learn  she 
has  a  king  for  a  suitor !  " 

"  Bah  I  You  are  nothing  but  a  heartless  cynic,"  said 
Sir  Norman,  yet  with  an  anxious  and  irritated  flush  on 
his  face,  too.     "  What  do  you  know  of  love  ?  " 

"  More  than  you  think,  as  pretty  Mariette  yonder  could 
depose,  if  put  upon  oath.  But  seriously,  Sir  Norman,  I 
am  afraid  your  case  is  of  the  most  desperate ;  royal  rivals 
are  dangerous  things  I " 

"  Yet  Charles  has  kind  impulses,  and  has  been  kno^vn 
to  do  generous  acts." 

"  Has  he  ?  You  expect  him,  beyond  doubt,  to  do  pre- 
cisely as  he  said ;  and  if  Leoline,  different  from  all  the 
rest  of  her  sex,  prefers  the  knight  to  the  king,  he  ^a  ill 
yield  her  unresistingly  to  you." 

"  I  have  nothing  but  his  word  for  it ! "  said  Sir  Nor- 
man, in  a  distracted  tone,  "  and  at  present,  can  do  notli'.iig 
but  bide  my  time.    I  am  afraid  Leoline  will  think  we 


■   'I 

'  i 


244 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


have  deserted  her  altogether,  and  give  herself  up  to  de- 
spair.'' 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  that,  too  I  I  promised,  you 
know,  when  I  left  her,  last  night,  that  we  would  return 
before  day  dawn  and  rescue  her.  The  unhappy  little 
beauty  will  doubtless  think  I  have  fallen  into  the  tiger's 
311WS  myself,  and  has  half-wept  her  bright  eyes  out  by 
this  time ! " 

"  jNIy  poor  Leoline !  And  oh,  Hubert,  if  you  only  knew 
what  she  is  to  you  I  '* 

"  I  do  know !     She  told  me  she  was  my  sister  I " 

Sir  Norman  looked  at  him  in  amazement. 

"  She  told  you,  and  you  take  it  like  this  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  I  take  it  like  this.  How  would  you  have 
me  take  it  ?  It  is  nothing  to  go  into  hysteiics  about, 
after  all  I " 

"  Of  all  the  cold-blooded  young  reptiles  I  ever  saw," 
exclaimed  Sir  Norman,  with  infinite  disgust,  "  you  are  the 
worst  I  If  you  were  told  you  were  to  receive  the  crown 
of  France  to-morrow,  you  would  probably  open  your  eyes 
a  trifle,  and  take  it  as  you  would  a  new  cap ! " 

"  Of  course  I  would.  I  haven't  lived  in  courts  half  my 
life  to  get  up  a  scene  for  a  small  matter !  Besides,  I  had 
an  idea  from  the  first  moment  I  saw  Leoline  that  she  must 
be  my  sister,  or  something  of  that  sort." 

"And  so  you  felt  no  emotion  whatever  on  hearing 
it?" 

"  I  don't  know  as  I  properly  understand  what  you  mean 
by  emotions,"  said  Hubert,  reflectively.  "But  ye-e-s,  I 
did  feel  somewhat  pleased — she  is  so  like  me,  and  so 
uncommonly  handsome ! " 

"  Humph  I  there's  a  reason  I  Did  she  tell  you  how  she 
discovered  it  herself  ?  " 

"  Let  me  see — no — I  think  not-^-she  simply  mentioned 
the  fact." 

"  She  did  not  tell  you  either,  I  suppose  tliat  you  had 
more  sisters  than  herself?" 

«  More  than  herself  ?  No.  That  would  bo  n  little  too 
much  of  a  good  thing !  One  sister  is  quite  enough  for 
any  reasonable  mortal." 

«  But  there  were  two  more,  my  good  young  friend  I " 


DAY-DAWJT. 


246 


I  to  do- 

ed,  you 
return 

y  little 
tiger's 

out  by 

jr  knew 


u  have 
about, 


f  saw. 


»> 


are  the 

crown 

ur  eyes 

lalf  my 
;,  I  had 
le  must 

learing 

mean 
-e-s,  I 
md  so 

ow  she 

itioned 

)u  had 

:le  too 
gh  for 

id  I" 


**  Is  it  possible  ?  "  said  Hubert  in  a  tone  that  betrayed 
not  the  slightest  symptom  of  emotion.    "  Who  are  they  ?  *' 

Sir  Norman  paused  one  instant,  combating  a  strong 
temptation  to  seize  the  phlegmatic  page  by  the  collar,  and 
gave  him  such  another  shaking  as  he  would  not  get  over 
for  a  week  to  come ;  but  suddenly  recollecting  he  was 
Leoline's  brother,  and  by  the  same  token  a  marquis  or 
thereabouts,  he  merely  paused  to  cast  a  withering  look 
upon  him,  and  walk  on. 

"  Well,"  said  Hubert,  "  I  am  waiting  to  be  told." 

"  You  may  wait,  then ! "  said  Sir  Norman,  with  a 
smothered  growl ;  "  and  I  give  you  joy  when  I  tell  you. 
Such  extra  communicativeness  to  one  so  stolid  could  do 
no  good  1 " 

**  But  I  am  not  stolid !  I  am  in  a  perfect  agony  of  anx- 
iety," said  Hubert,  making  a  grimace  to  represent  the 
agony.  «  Tell  me  all  about  it.  Sir  Norman — it  is  as  little 
as  you  can  do  for  your  new  brother." 

"  You  young  jackanapes  I "  said  Sir  Norman,  half-laugh- 
ing, half-incensed.  "  It  were  a  wise  deed  and  a  godly  one 
to  take  you  by  the  hind  leg  and  nape  of  the  neck,  and 
pitch  you  over  yonder  wall ;  but  for  your  sister's  sake  I 
will  desist." 

"  Which  of  them  ? "  inquired  Hubert,  with  provoking 
gravity. 

**  It  would  be  more  to  the  point  if  you  asked  me  who 
the  others  were,  I  think  I  " 

«  So  I  have,  and  you  merely  abuse  me  for  it.  But,  I 
think  I  know  one  of  them  without  being  told.  It  is  that 
other  facsimile  of  Leoline  and  myself  who  died  in  the 
robber's  ruin ! " 

"  Exactly.    You  and  she,  and  Leoline,  were  twins  1 " 

«  And  who  is  the  other  ?  " 

"  Her  name  is  La  Masque  I    Have  you  ever  heard  it  ?  " 

**  La  Masque !  Nonsense  I  "  exclaimed  Hubert,  with 
some  energy  in  his  voice,  at  last.  "You  but  jest,  Sir 
Norman  Kingsley  I " 

"  No  such  thing !  It  is  a  positive  fact !  She  told  me 
the  whole  story  herself ! " 

"  And  what  is  the  whole  story ;  and  why  did  she  not 
tell  it  to  me  instead  of  you  ?  " 


m 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QtJEEK. 


"  She  told  it  to  Leoline,  thinking,  probably,  she  had  the 
most  sense;  and  she  told  it  to  me,  as  Leoline*s  future 
husband.  It  is  somewhat  long  to  relate,  but  it  will  help 
to  beguile  the  time  while  we  are  waiting  for  the  royal 
summons." 

And  hereupon.  Sir  Norman,  without  fui'ther  preface, 
launched  into  a  rapid  resume  of  La  Masque's  story,  feel- 
ing the  cold  chill  with  which  he  had  witnessed  it  creep 
over  him  as  he  narrated  her  fearful  end.  Hubert  listened, 
with  his  dark  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  his  face  a 
perfect  blank  wall  for  all  the  emotion  or  excitement  it 
expressed. 

"  It  struck  me,"  concluded  Sir  Norman, "  that  it  would  be 
better  to  secure  any  papers  she  might  possess  at  once,  lest, 
by  accident,  they  should  fall  into  other  hands ;  so  I  rode 
there  directly,  and,  in  spite  of  the  cantankerous  old  porter, 
searched  diligently,  like  the  woman  after  the  goat,imtil  1 
found  them.  Here  they  are,"  said  Sir  NOrman,  drawing 
forth  the  roll.  "  A  voluminous  pack,  you  perceive  ;  and 
every  one  worth  a  thousand  times  its  weight  in  gold ! " 

"  And  what  do  you  intend  doing  with  them  ?  "  inquired 
Hubert,  glancing  at  them  with  an  unmoved  countenance. 

"  Show  them  to  the  king,  and,  through  his  mediation 
with  Louis,  obtain  for  you  the  restoration  of  your  rights." 

*'  And  do  you  think  his  majesty  will  give  himself  so 
much  trouble  for  the  Earl  of  Rochester's  page  ?  " 

"  I  think  he  will  take  the  trouble  to  see  justice  done 
or  at  least  he  ought  to.  If  he  declines,  we  will  take  the 
matter  in  our  own  hands,  my  Hubert ;  and  you  and  I  will 
seek  Louis  ourselves.  Please  God,  the  Earl  of  Rochester's 
page  will  yet  wear  the  coronet  of  the  De  Montmorencis  I " 

«  And  the  sister  of  a  marquis  will  be  no  unworthy  mate 
even  for  a  Kingsley,"  said  Hubert,  in  his  careless  way, 
taking  Sir  Norman's  enthusiasm  with  stoical  indifference. 
"  Has  La  Masque  left  nothing  for  her  ?  " 

«  Do  you  see  this  casket  ?  "  tapping  the  one  of  carved 
brass  dangling  from  his  belt ;  "  well,  it  is  full  of  jewels 
worth  a  king's  ransom.  I  found  them  in  a  drawer  of  La 
Masque's  house,  with  directions  that  they  were  to  be  given 
to  her  sisters  at  her  death.  Miranda  being  dead,  I  pre- 
sume t^ey  >ire  all  Leoline's  now." 


tr 


DAY-DAWN. 


247 


*«  This  is  a  queer  business  altogether  I "  said  Hubert, 
musingly ;  "  and  I  am  greatly  mistaken  if  King  Louis  will 
not  regard  it  as  a  very  pretty  little  work  of  fiction,  much 
more  suited  to  the  ancient  days  of  harpers  and  trouba- 
dours, than  to  the  seventeenth  century." 

**  But  I  have  proofs,  lad !  The  authenticity  of  these 
papers  cannot  be  doubted." 

"  With  all  my  heart.  I  have  no  objection  to  be  made  a 
marquis  of,  and  go  back  to  la  belle  France,  out  of  this  land 
of  plague  and  fog.  Won't  some  of  my  friends  here  be  as- 
tonished when  they  hear  it,  particularly  the  Earl  of  IJo- 
chester,  when  he  finds  out  that  he  has  had  a  marquis  for 
a  page  ?  Ah,  here  comes  George,  and  bearing  a  summons 
from  Count  L'Estrange,  at  last." 

Hubert  guessed  aright.  George  approached,  and  inti- 
mated that  Sir  Norman  was  to  follow  him  to  the  presence 
of  his  master. 

"  Au  revoir,  then,"  said  Hubert.  "  You  will  find  me 
here  when  you  come  back." 

Sir  Norman,  with  a  slight  tremor  of  the  nerves  at  what 
was  to  come,  followed  the  king's  page  through  halls  and 
ante-rooms,  full  of  loiterers,  courtiers  and  their  attendants. 
Once  a  hand  was  laid  on  his  shoulder,  a  laughing  voice 
met  his  ear,  and  the  Earl  of  Rochester  stood  beside  him  I 

"  Good-morning,  Sir  Norman ;  you  are  abroad  betimes. 
How  have  you  left  your  friend,  the  Count  L'Estrange  ?  " 

**  Your  lordship  has  probably  seen  him  since  I  have,  and 
should  be  able  to  answer  that  question  best." 

"  And  how  does  his  suit  progress  with  the  pretty  Leo- 
line  ?  "  went  on  the  gay  earl.    "  I'  faith,  Kingsley,  I  never 
saw  such  a  charming  little  beauty  ;  and  I  shall  do  comba' 
with  you  yet — with  both  the  count  and  yourself,  and  out 
wit  the  pair  of  you  I " 

"Permit  me  to  differ  from  your  lordship.  Leoline 
would  not  touch  you  with  a  pair  of  tongs." 

**  Ah  I  she  has  better  taste  than  you  give  her  credit  for ; 
but  if  I  should  fail,  I  know  what  to  do  to  console  my- 
self." 

"May  I  ask  what?" 

"  Yes !  there  is  Hubert,  as  like  her  as  two  peas  in  a 
pod,    I  §l:rvl  'li'cs-;  Liimiu  in  luce;  uuu  tajiks, uuiJ  gewgaws^ 


248 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


and  have  a  Leoline  of  my  own  already  and  made  to 
order." 

"  Permit  me  to  doubt  that,  too !  Hubert  is  as  much 
lost  to  you  as  Leoline !  " 

Leaving  the  volatile  earl  to  put  what  construction 
pleased  him  best  on  this  last  sententious  remark,  he  re- 
sumed his  march  after  George,  and  was  ushered,  at  last, 
into  an  ante-room  near  the  audience- chamber.  Count  L'Es- 
trange,  still  attired  as  Count  L'Estrange,  stood  near  a 
window  over-looking  the  court- yard,  and  as  the  pnge 
salaamed  and  withdrew,  he  turned  round  and  greeted  Sir 
Norman  with  his  suavest  air. 

**  The  appointed  hour  is  passed.  Sir  Norman  Kingsley, 
but  that  is  partly  your  own  fault.  Your  guide  hither 
tells  me  that  you  stopped  for  some  time  at  the  house  of  a 
fortune-teller,  known  as  La  Masque.     Why  was  this?" 

"I  was  forced  to  stop  on  most  important  business,* 
answered  the  knight,  still  resolved  to  treat  him  as  the 
count,  until,  it  should  please  him  to  doflf  his  incognito, 
"  of  which  you  shall  hear  anon.  Just  now,  our  business 
is  with  Leoline." 

"  True  !  And  as  in  a  short  time  I  start  with  yonder 
cavalcade,  there  is  but  little  time  to  lose.  Apropos^  Kings- 
ley,  who  is  that  mysterious  woman.  La  Masque  ?  " 

"  She  is,  or  was,  (for  she  is  dead  now),  a  French  lady,  of 
noble  birth,  and  the  sister  of  Leoline  I  " 

"  Her  sister  I  And  have  you  then  discovered  Leoline's 
history  ?  " 

« I  have  I  " 

"  And  her  name  ?  " 

"And  her  name.  She  is  Leoline  De  Montmorencil 
And  with  the  proudest  blood  of  France  in  her  veins  living 
obscure  and  unknown — a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  since 
childhood ;  but,  with  God's  grace  and  your  help,  1  hope  to 
see  her  restored  to  all  she  has  lost,  before  long." 

"You  know  me,  then?"  said  his  companion,  half- 
smiling. 

"Yes,  your  majesty,"  answered  Sir  Norman,  bowing 
low  before  the  king. 


FINIS. 


240 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


FINIS. 

As  the  last  glimpse  of  moonlight  and  of  Hubert's  bright 
face  vanished,  Leoline  took  to  pacing  up  and  down  the 
room  in  a  most  conflicting  and  exciting  state  of  mind.  So 
many  things  had  happened  during  the  past  night;  so 
rapid  and  unprecedented  had  been  the  course  of  events; 
so  changed  had  her  whole  life  become  within  the  last 
twelve  hours,  that  when  she  came  to  think  it  all  over  it 
fairly  made  her  giddy.  Dressing  for  her  bridal ;  the  terri- 
ble announcement  of  Prudence ;  the  death-like  swoon ;  the 
awakening  at  the  plague-pit ;  the  maniac  flight  through  the 
streets ;  the  cold  plunge  in  the  river ;  her  rescue ;  her  inter- 
view with  Sir  Norman,  and  her  promise ;  the  visit  of  La 
Masque ;  the  appearance  of  the  count ;  her  abduction ;  her 
journey  here ;  the  coming  of  Hubert,  and  their  suddenly- 
discovered  relationship.  It  was  enough  to  stun  any  one, 
and  the  end  was  not  yet.  Would  Hubert  effect  his  es- 
cape? Would  ttiey  be  able  to  free  her?  What  place 
was  this,  and  who  was  Count  L'Estrange  ?  It  was  a  great 
deal  easier  to  propound  this  catechism  to  herself  than  to 
find  answers  to  her  own  questions ;  and  so  she  walked 
up  and  down,  worrying  her  pretty  little  head  with  all 
sorts  of  anxieties,  until  it  was  a  perfect  miracle  that  soften- 
ing of  the  brain  did  not  ensue. 

Her  feet  gave  out  sooner  than  her  brain,  though ;  and 
she  got  so  tired  before  long,  that  she  dropped  into  i  seat, 
with  a  long-drawn,  anxious  sigh.  She  listened  for  some 
noise — some  token — that  might  give  her  an  idea,  however 
faint,  what  manner  of  place  this  was  ;  but  she  listened  in 
vain :  and,  worn  out  with  fatigue  and  watching,  she,  at 
last,  fell  uncon  scion  «?ly  asleori. 

And  sleeping,  she  dreamed.    II  tjcciucd  to  herthi^tlhe 


260 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


count  and  Sir  Norman  were  before  her,  in  her  chamber  in 
the  old  house  on  London  Bridge,  tossing  her  iieart  be- 
tween them  like  a  sort  of  shuttlecock,  while  La  Masque 
stood  grinning  horribly  with  her  skeleton-mouth,  and 
looking  out  of  her  skeleton-eyes.  By-and-by,  with  two 
drumsticks,  they  began  hammering  away  at  the  poor  little 
fluttering  heart,  as  if  it  were  an  anvil  and  they  were  a  pair 
of  blacksmiths,  while  the  loud  knocks  upon  it  resounded 
through  the  room.  Gradually,  the  knocking  grew  so  loud 
that  Leoline  awoke  in  affright — awoke  to  find  it  not  all  a 
dream.  For,  though  the  palpitathig  heart  was  throbbing 
away  in  short  pulses,  safe  and  sound,  under  her  pink-satin 
corsage,  the  knocking  still  continued,  echoing  strangely 
through  the  silent  room.  For  a  time  she  was  so  bewil- 
dered that  she  could  not  comprehtjnd  what  it  meant ;  but, 
at  last,  she  became  conscious  that  some  one  was  rapning 
at  the  door.  Pressing  one  hand  over  her  startled  heart, 
she  called :  "  Come  in  I "  and  the  door  opened  and  George 
entered. 

**  Count  L'Estrange  commands  me  to  inform  you,  fair 
lady,  that  he  will  do  himself  the  pleasure  of  visiting  you 
immediately,  with  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  if  you  are  pre- 
pared to  receive  them." 

Leoline  opened  her  bright  black  eyes  so  wide  at  this 
announcement,  that  George  repeated  his  mesaage  more 
emphatically  than  before. 

**  With  Sir  Norman  Kingsley  I "  repeated  Leoline, 
faintly.    **  I — I  am  afraid  I  do  not  quite  understand." 

**  Then  you  will  not  be  much  longer  in  that  deplorable 
state,"  said  Greorge,  backing  out,  «  for  here  they  are." 

He  vanished  as  he  spoke,  and  instantaneously  Leoline 
saw  in  his  place  the  bland  face  of  Count  L'Estrange,  and 
right  behind  that  of  Sir  Norman  Kingsley.  In  a  violent 
tremor  and  agitation  she  arose,  and  with  pale  face,  parted 
lips  and  dilated  eyes  waited  for  what  was  to  come. 

**  Pardon  this  intrusion,  fairest  Leoline,"  began  the  count, 
«*  but  Sir  Norman  and  I  are  about  to  start  on  a  journey, 
and  before  we  go  there  is  a  little  difference  of  opinion  be- 
tween us  that  you  are  to  settle." 

Leoline  looked  first  at  one  and  then  at  the  other,  utterly 
bewildered.    The  count's  impassive  face  said  nothing,  but 


FINIS. 


251 


be- 


I 


in  Sir  Norman's  smiling  eyes  the];«  was  a  world  of  en* 
couragement. 

"What  is  it?"  she  asked. 

"  A  simple  matter  enough.  Last  evening,  if  you  rec- 
ollect, you  were  my  promised  bride." 

**  It  was  against  my  will,"  said  Leoline,  boldly,  though 
her  voice  shook.    "  You  and  Prudence  made  me." 

"  Nay,  Leoline,  you  wrong  me.  I,  at  least,  used  no 
compulsion." 

**  You  know  better  I  You  haunted  me  continually ; 
you  give  me  no  peace  at  all;  and  I  would  just  have 
married  you  to  get  rid  of  you." 

**  And  you  never  loved  me  ?  " 

**  I  never  did." 

<*A  frank  confession!  Did  you,  then,  love  any  one 
else  ?  " 

The  dark  eyes  fell,  and  the  roseate  glow  ag^ain  tinged 
the  pearly  face. 

**  Mute ! "  said  the  count,  with  an  almost  imperceptible 
smile.    "  Look  up,  Lecline,  and  speak." 

But  Leoline  would  do  neither.  With  all  her  momen- 
tary daring  gone,  she  stood  shy  and  startled  as  a  wild 
gazelle. 

"  Shall  I  answer  for  her,  Sir  Count  ? "  exclaimed  Sir 
Norman,  his  own  cheek  flushed.  "  Leoline !  Leoline  t 
you  love  me  I " 

Leoline  was  silent ;  but  there  was  a  quick  up-lifting 
of  the  sweeping  eyelashes  that  spoke  encyclopedias. 

"  You  are  to  decide  between  us,  Leoline.  Though  the 
count  forcibly  brought  you  here,  he  has  been  generous 
enough  to  grant  this.  Say,  then,  which  of  us  you  love 
best." 

"  I  do  not  love  him  at  all,"  said  Leoline,  with  a  little 
disdain,  "  and  he  knows  it." 

"Then  it  is  I ! "  said  Sir  Norman,  his  whole  face  beam- 
mg  with  delight. 

"  It  is  you  I " 

Glancing  askance  at  the  count  under  her  drooping  eye- 
lids, Leoline  held  out  both  hands  to  the  loved  one  and 
nestled  close  to  his  side,  as  a  child  would  to  its  pro- 
tector. 


262 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


**  Fairly  rejected  I  '*  said  the  count,  with  a  passing  shade 
of  mortiilcation  on  his  brow ;  "  and,  my  word  being 
pledged,  I  must  submit.  But,  beautiful  Leoline,  you  have 
yet  to  learn  whom  you  have  discarded." 

Clinging  to  her  lover's  arm,  the  girl  grew  white  with 
undefined  apprehension.  I^eisurely  the  count  removed 
false  wig,  false  eyebrows,  false  beard ;  and  a  face  well- 
known  to  Leoline,  from  pictures  and  descriptions,  turned 
full  upon  her. 

"  Sire !  "  she  cried,  in  terror,  falling  on  her  knees  with 
clasped  hands. 

"  Nay ;  rise,  fair  Leoline,"  said  the  king,  holding  out 
his  hand  to  assist  her.  **■  It  is  my  place  to  kneel  to  one  so 
lovely,  instead  of  having  her  kneel  to  me.  Think  again. 
Will  you  reject  the  king  as  you  did  the  count  ?  " 

♦*  Pardon,  your  majesty  I "  said  Leoline,  scarcely  daring 
to  look  up ;  "  but  I  must  1 " 

"  So  it  be !  You  are  a  perfect  miracle  of  truth  and  con- 
stancy, and  I  think  I  ran  afford  to  be  generous  for  once. 
In  fifteen  minutes  we  start  for  Oxford,  and  you  must  ac- 
company us  as  Lady  Kingsley.  In  anticipation  of  some 
such  result  as  this,  I  have  left  behind  me  orders.  A 
tiring  woman  will  wait  upon  you  to  robe  you  for  your 
bridal.  We  will  leave  you  now,  and  let  me  enjoin  ex- 
pedition." 

And  while  she  still  stood  too  much  astonished  by  the 
sudden  proposal  to  answer,  both  were  gone,  and  in  their 
place  stood  a  smiling  lady's  lady,  with  a  cloud  of  gossamer 
white  in  her  arms. 

"  Are  those  for  me  ?  "  inquired  Leoline,  looking  at  them 
and  trying  to  comprehend  that  it  was  all  real. 

"They  are  for  you — sent  by  Mistress  Stuart  herself. 
Please  sit  down,  and  all  will  be  ready  in  a  trice." 

And  in  a  trice  all  was  ready.  The  shining,  jetty  curls 
were  smoothed,  and  fell  in  a  glossy  shower,  trained  with 
jewels — the  pearls  Leoline  herself  still  wore.  The  rose 
satin  was  discarded  for  another  of  bridal  white,  perfect  of 
fit,  and  splendid  of  texture.  A  great  gossamer  vail  fell 
like  a  cloud  of  silver  mist  over  all,  from  head  to  foot ;  and 
Leoline  was  shown  herself  in  a  mirror,  and  in  the  sudden 
transformation,  could  have  exclaimed,  with  the  unfor- 


FINIS. 


258 


en 
or- 


tunate  lady  in  Mother  Goose,  shorn  of  her  tresses  when 
in  balmy  slumber :  **  As  sure  as  I*m  a  little  woman,  this 
is  none  of  it  1 "  But  she  it  was,  nevertheless,  who  stood 
listening  like  one  in  a  trance,  to  the  enthusiastic  praises 
of  her  waiting- maid. 

Again  there  was  a  tap  at  the  door.  This  time  the  at- 
tendant opened  it,  and  George  reappeared.  Even  he  stood 
for  a  moment  looking  at  the  silver-shining  vision,  and  so 
lost  in  admiration  that  he  almost  forgot  his  message.  But 
when  Leoline  turned  the  light  of  her  beautiful  eyes  in- 
quiringly upon  him,  he  managed  to  remember  it,  and  an- 
nounced that  he  had  been  sent  by  the  king  to  usher  her 
to  the  royal  presence.  With  a  fast- throbbing  heart, 
flushed  cheeks,  and  brilliant  eyes,  the  dazzling  bride 
followed  him,  unconscious  that  she  had  never  looked  so 
incomparable  before  in  her  life.  It  was  but  a  few  hours 
since  she  had  dressed  for  another  bridal;  and  what 
wonderful  things  had  occurred  since  then — her  whole 
destiny  had  changed  in  a  night.  Not  quite  sure  yet  but 
that  she  was  still  dreaming,  she  followed  on — saw  George 
throw  open  the  great  doors  of  the  audience-chamber,  and 
found  herself  suddenly  in  what  seemed  to  her  a  vast  con- 
course of  people.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  apartment  was 
a  brilliant  group  of  ladies,  with  the  king's  beautiful 
favorite  in  their  midst;  and  here  and  there,  along  its 
length,  were  many  others,  gossiping  with  knots  of  gentle- 
men. The  king  himself  stood  in  the  recess  of  a  window, 
with  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Earl  of  Rochester, 
and  Sir  Norman  Kingsley,  and  was  laughing  and  relating 
animatedly  to  the  two  peers  the  whole  story.  Leoline 
noticed  this,  and  noticed,  too,  that  all  wore  traveling- 
dress — most  of  the  ladies,  indeed,  being  attired  in  riding- 
habits  ;  and  then,  as  a  profound  silence  fell,  and  all  eyes 
turned  scrutinizingly  upon  her  as  she  entered,  she  stopped 
in  embarrassment  glowing  like  the  heart  of  a  June 
rose. 

The  king  himself  advanced  to  her  rescue.  Drawing 
her  arm  within  his,  he  led  her  up  and  presented  her  to 
the  fair  Stuart,  who  received  her  with  smiling  gracious- 
ness ;  though  Leoline,  all  unused  to  court  ways,  and 
aware  of  the  lovely  lady's  questionable  position,  returned 


254 


•ii 


rHE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


it  almost  with  cold  hauteur.  Charles  being  in  an  un- 
usually gracious  mood,  only  smiled  as  he  noticed  H,  and 
introduced  her  next  to  his  brother  of  York,  and  her  former 
short  acquaintance,  Rochester. 

**  There's  no  need,  I  presume,  to  make  you  acquainted 
with  this  other  gentleman,"  said  Charles,  with  a  laughing 
glance  at  Sir  Norman.  "Kingsley,  stand  forward  and 
receive  your  bride.  My  Lord  of  Canterbury,  we  await 
your  good  offices." 

The  bland  bishop,  in  surplice  and  state,  and  book  in 
Land,  stepped  from  a  distant  group,  and  advanced.  Sir 
Norman,  with  a  flush  on  his  cheek,  and  an  exultant  light 
in  his  eyes,  took  the  hand  of  his  beautiful  bride,  who 
stood  lovely,  and  blushing,  and  downcast,  the  envy  and 
achniration  of  all.    And 

"  Before  the  bishop  now  they  stand, 
Tlie  bridegroom  and  the  bride  ; 
And  who  shall  paint  what  lovers  feel 
In  this,  their  hour  of  pridb  ? '' 

Who,  indeed?    Like  many  other  pleasant  things  in 
this  world,  it  requires  to  be  felt  to  be  appreciated ;  and, 
for  that  reason,  it  is  a  subject  on  which  the  unworthy 
chronicler  is  altogether  incompetent  to  speak.    The  first 
words  of  the  ceremony  dropped  from  the  prelate's  urbane 
lips,  and  Sir  Norman's  heart  danced  a  tarantella  within 
him.    "Wilt  thou?"  inquired  the  bishop,  blandly,  and 
slipped  a  plain  gold  ring  on  one  pretty  finger  of  Leoline's 
hand;  and  all  heard  the  old,  old  formula:  What  God 
hath  put  together,  let  no  man  put  asunder  I "    And  tlie 
whole  mystic  rite  was  over.    Leoline  gave  one  earnc 
glance  at  the  ring  on  her  finger.    Long  ago,  sla-ves  a\  < 
rings  as  the  sign  of  their  bondage — is  it  for  the  sa 
reason  married  women  wear  them  now?    While  she  y 
looked  half-doubttally  at  it  she  was  surrounded,  con- 
gratulated, and  gtunned  with  a  sudden  clamor  of  voices  ; 
and  then,  through  it  all,  she  heard  the  well-remembered 
voice  of  Count  L'Estrange,  saying : 

**  My  lords  and  ladies,  time  is  on  the  v/ing,  and  the  sun 
is  already  half  an  hour  liigli !  Off  with  you  all  to  the 
court-yard,  and  mount,  while  Lady  Kingsley  changes  her 


FINIS. 


255 


un- 

and 

L*mer 

nted 

:hing 

and 

Lwait 

ik  in 
Sir 

light 
who 
and 


js  in 
and, 
rthy 
first 
bane 
thin 
and 

[line's 

God 

tiie 

Irnc 

SIT 

ley 

con- 
^ices ; 
)ered 


sun 
the 
her 


wedding-gear  for  robes  more  befitting  travel,  and  joins 
us  there." 

With  a  low  obeisance  to  the  king,  the  lovely  bride 
hastened  away  after  one  of  the  favorite's  attendants,  to 
do  as  he  directed,  and  don  a  riding-suit.  In  ten  minutes 
after,  when  the  royal  cavalcade  started,  she  turned  from 
the  pest-stricken  city,  too — and  fairest,  where  all  was 
fair,  by  Sir  Norman's  side  rode  Leoline. 


Sittmg  one  winter  night  by  a  glorious  wmter  fire,  while 
the  snow  and  hail  lashed  the  windows,  and  the  wind 
roared  like  Bottom,  the  weaver,  without,  a  pleasant 
voice  whispered  the  foregoing  tale.  Here,  as  it  paused 
abruptly,  and  seemed  to  have  done  with  the  whole  thing, 
I  naturally  began  to  ask  questions.  What  happened  the 
dwarf  and  his  companions?  What  became  of  Hubert? 
Did  Sir  Norman  and  Lady  Kingsley  go  to  Devonshire, 
and  did  either  of  them  die  of  the  plague  ?  I  felt  myself, 
when  I  said  it,  that  the  last  suggestion  was  beneath  con- 
tempt, and  so  a  withering  look  from  the  face  opposite 
proved ;  but  the  voice  was  obliging  enough  to  answer  the 
rest  of  my  queries.  The  dwarf  and  his  cronies  being  put 
into  his  majesty's  jail  of  Newgato,  where  the  plague  was 
raging  fearfully,  they  all  died  in  a  wfjek,  and  so  managed 
to  cheat  the  executioner.  Hubert  went  to  France,  and 
laid  his  claims  before  the  royal  Louia,  who,  not  being 
able .  to  do  otherwise,  was  graciously  pleased  to  ac- 
knowledgf  them;  and  Hubert  became  the  Marquis  de 
Montmorenci,  and  in  the  fullness  of  time  took  unto  him- 
self a  wife,  even  of  the  daughters  of  the  land,  and  lived 
happy  for  ever  after. 

And  Sir  Norman  and  Lady  Kingsley  did  go  to  the  old 
manor  in  Devonshire,  where — saith  tradition  and  my  in- 
formant.—there  is  to  be  seen  to  this  day,  an  old  family 
picture,  painted  some  twelve  years  after,  representing  the 
knight  and  his  lady,  sitting  serenely  in  their  "  ain  ingle 
nook  "  with  their  family  around  them.  Sir  Norman,  a 
little  portlier,  a  little  graver,  in  the  serious  dignity  of 
paterfamilias  ;  and  Leoline,  with  the  dark  beautiful  eyes, 
the  falling,  shining  hair,  the  sweet-smiling  lips,  and  lovely, 


256 


THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 


placid  face  of  old.  Between  them,  on  three  creepies,  sit 
three  little  boys ;  while  the  fourth,  and  youngest,  a  minia- 
ture little  Sir  Norman,  leans  against  his  mother's  shoulder, 
and  looks  thoughtfully  up  in  her  sweet,  calm  face.  Of 
the  fate  of  those  four,  the  same  ancient  lore  affirms : 
"  That  the  eldest  afterward  bore  the  title  of  Earl  of  Kings- 
ley  ;  that  the  second  became  a  lord  high  admiral,  or  chan- 
cellor, or  something  equally  hifalutin ;  and  that  the  third 
became  an  archbisliop.  But  the  highest  honor  of  all  was 
reserved  for  the  fourth,  and  youngest,"  continued  the  nar- 
rating voice,  "  who,  after  many  days,  sailed  for  America, 
and,  in  the  course  of  time,  became  President  of  the  United 
States." 

Determined  to  be  fully  satisfied  on  this  point,  at  least, 
the  author  invested  all  her  spare  change  in  a  catalogue 
of  all  the  said  Presidents,  from  George  Washington  to 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and,  after  a  diligent  and  absorbing  per- 
usal of  that  piece  of  literature,  could  find  no  such  name 
as  Kingsley  whatever ;  and  has  been  forced  to  come  to 
the  coaclusion  that  he  must  have  applied  to  congress  to 
change  ills  name  on  arriving  in  the  New  World,  or  else 
that  her  informant  was  laboring  under  a  falsehood  when 
she  told  her  so.    As  for  the  rest, 


(( 


I  know  not  how  the  truth  may  be, 
I  say  it  as  'twas  said  to  me." 


THE  END. 


I'    l 


s,  sit 
linia- 
Ider, 
Of 
rms: 
ings- 
lian- 
:hird 
was 
nar- 
Tica, 
lited 

east, 
ague 
n  to 
per- 
lame 
e  to 
js  to 
else 
Then 


